The examination of the Internet usage and subjective quality of life in the elderly generation

Abstract

THE AIM OF THE PAPER

Nowadays the Internet is playing an increasingly important role in the lives of the elderly generation. In parallel with the aging of the population, the well-being and quality of life amid the elderly generation, as well as the assessment of their level of satisfaction, came to the focus. According to the international researches, there is a positive relationship between the Internet and leisure activities of the elderly. The aim of the study is to explore the usage of internet and the activity of social media amid the older generation and to examine its impact on subjective quality of life.

METHODOLOGY

To answer the first research question the mathematical-statistical method was used for analyses and processing of secondary data. Pilot study was conducted in 2019 by applying online technique for collecting data form BB generation. Altogether the data of 105 (53% females and 47% males) consumers were collected. To interpret the results statistical analysis was used.

MOST IMPORTANT RESULTS

Our results show, that in the EU Member States, there is a strong, positive relationship between the use of ICT by the older generation and their satisfaction with life. It can be stated that the subjective evaluation of the quality of life amid the Hungarian Baby Boomers and the activity expressed in social media have an effect on each other, the correlation coefficient indicates a strong, positive correlation.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Measures on the usage of internet and social media certify the quantitative changes. But, we conclude that there are differences among results originated from the particularities of the frequency levels. It is an additional problem the examination of qualitative changes according to the generations. It is necessary further research to highlight the background factors influencing the activities in internet and social media, and the social and individual tasks to assist for active participation.

Acknowledgements: The paper was written with the support of the project titled "Internationalisation, initiatives to establish a new source of researchers and graduates and development of knowledge and technological transfer as instruments of intelligent specialisations at Széchenyi István University" (project number: EFOP-3.6.1-16-2016-00017).