The Enabling Role of ICT to Mitigate the Negative Effects of Emotional and Social Loneliness of the Elderly during Covid-19 Pandemic

Datos Bibliográficos

ID15480441
AutoresCarmen Llorente Barroso (0000-0001-7710-0956, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, autor de correspondencia), Olga Kolotouchkina (0000-0002-8348-8544, Universidad San Pablo CEU, autor de correspondencia), Luis Mañas-Viniegra (0000-0001-9129-5673, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, autor de correspondencia)
Año2021
Volumen18
Número8
Páginas3923-3923
Fecha de publicación2021-04-08
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
EditorialMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph18083923
PMID33917966
OpenAlexW3151800292
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas29
Referencias citadas60

(1) Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has been especially hard on the elderly owing to their particular vulnerability to the virus. Their confinement to prevent the spread of the virus resulted in social isolation, often linked to the unwanted loneliness that hinders their emotional well-being. The enabling capacity of ICT (Information and Communication Technology) to overcome the negative effects of this isolation requires special attention. The purpose of this research is to understand the impact of the use of ICT on the emotional well-being of elderly people during their confinement. (2) Methods: A qualitative exploration method based on four focus groups with elderly people aged 60 years or older and three in-depth personal interviews with experts in education of the elderly were carried out. (3) Results: Research results evidence a negative emotional impact of the confinement (lack of physical contact with their loved ones, fear and uncertainty, feeling of loneliness, sadness at the loss of family members) on the emotional well-being of study participants. Furthermore, the operational capacity of ICT to prevent infection, as well as their positive emotional and humanizing role in providing access to entertainment and hobbies, and in improving self-esteem was also acknowledged. (4) Conclusions: ICT have become a valuable ally for elderly people aged 60 years and older to mitigate the negative effects of social isolation and loneliness imposed by the confinement

Anger · Computer security · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Developmental psychology · Feeling · Information and Communications Technology · Isolation (microbiology · Loneliness · Pandemic · Political science · Psychiatry · Sadness · Social isolation · Vulnerability (computing · Aging and Gerontology Research · Clinical Psychology · Computer Science · Health disparities and outcomes · Medicine · Psychology · Social Psychology · Technology Use by Older Adults