Social networking sites use and life satisfaction. A quantitative study on older people living in Europe. Issue 1 (1st January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gaia, Alessandra; Sala, Emanuela; Cerati, Gabriele
• Is Part Of: European societies. Volume 23:Issue 1(2021)
• Page Start: 98
• Page End: 118
• Publication Date: 2021-01-01
• Subjects: Ageing -- social networking sites -- social media -- well-being -- life satisfaction -- socio-economic inequalities; Sociology -- Europe -- Periodicals; Europe -- Social conditions -- 20th century -- Periodicals; 301.094
• DOI: 10.1080/14616696.2020.1762910
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1461-6696

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The European ageing population poses unprecedented challenges to society as a whole. Social Networking Sites might be important tools to boost older people's well-being, strengthening and creating social connections in old age. Despite of its potentialities, there is relatively little knowledge on the impact of SNS use on older people's well-being, especially in Europe. Our study investigates the relationship between SNS use and life satisfaction (a key measure of well-being) in old age. We use data from the 2017 Standard Eurobarometer 88 survey, performing a set of multilevel regression models. To fully understand the specificity of the relationship between SNS use and life satisfaction in old age population, we perform a multi-cohort analysis. We find a positive association between SNS use and life satisfaction in old age, association that persists after controlling for a number of possible confounding effects.