Digital social connectedness as a lifeline for older people: Use and non‑use of VinclesBCN during the pandemic

Rodríguez‑Giralt, Israel, López‑Gómez, Daniel and Beneito-Montagut, Roser ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5967-4307 2024. Digital social connectedness as a lifeline for older people: Use and non‑use of VinclesBCN during the pandemic. International Journal of Disaster Risk Science 15 (2) , pp. 251-264. 10.1007/s13753-024-00556-8

Preview

PDF - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (899kB) | Preview

Abstract

This article presents the results of a study that evaluated VinclesBCN during COVID-19. This digital-based public social service aims to prevent loneliness and isolation in +65-year-old adults living in Barcelona. Through service user (N = 12) and professional (N = 6) interviews and a questionnaire with service users (N = 255), we demonstrate the pivotal role of digital connectedness in transforming VinclesBCN into a lifeline during the pandemic. The analysis revealed the importance of sociability, social support, and, especially, entertainment in coping with pandemic fatigue and facilitating social connectivity and support among users. Users engaged in activities such as sharing images, songs, memes, and daily greetings to provide proximity, sociability, and care among users, whether they belonged to preexisting groups or were newly introduced to the platform. It also facilitated the identification of individuals who needed companionship, comfort, or more specialized support. The findings emphasize the significance of entertainment as a resilience-building strategy during times of uncertainty. Despite the positive impact, not all users equally used the platform. Non-use was strongly associated with being a woman, having a low educational level, having preexisting social relationships, less time of enrolment in the platform, as well as a high perception of loneliness, poor self-reported health, and low mood. The article underscores the need for further research into older adults’ digital engagement during crises, its role in building resilience, and advocating for inclusive digital interventions that take into account diverse older adults’ needs and experiences in crisis contexts.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Social Sciences (Includes Criminology and Education)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) H Social Sciences > HM Sociology
Publisher:	SpringerOpen
ISSN:	2095-0055
Funders:	Department of the Promotion of the Elderly, Social Rights, Global Justice, Feminism and LGBTI of the Barcelona City Council
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	30 April 2024
Date of Acceptance:	10 April 2024
Last Modified:	11 Jun 2024 09:00
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/168498

Actions (repository staff only)

Edit Item