Abstract
The article examines the relationship between the Internet use and leisure activities amongst Finnish seniors. Traditionally,
the young have been the most active users of the Internet and other information and communication technologies (ICTs). In
recent years, however, older age groups have increasingly become more interested in ICT, yet a significant proportion of Finnish
seniors rarely log on. Using data from a nationally representative survey (N = 542) conducted in the summer of 2010, we explored the connection between the frequent Internet use and general leisure
activity. The basic socio-demographic variables were controlled in the analysis. The findings indicate that the active Internet
use in old age has a strong positive correlation with the number of different leisure activities amongst Finnish seniors.
As most European societies continue to age, it is clear that future research should focus on the implications and the role
the Internet and other new ICTs will play in the everyday life amongst the ageing citizens.
the young have been the most active users of the Internet and other information and communication technologies (ICTs). In
recent years, however, older age groups have increasingly become more interested in ICT, yet a significant proportion of Finnish
seniors rarely log on. Using data from a nationally representative survey (N = 542) conducted in the summer of 2010, we explored the connection between the frequent Internet use and general leisure
activity. The basic socio-demographic variables were controlled in the analysis. The findings indicate that the active Internet
use in old age has a strong positive correlation with the number of different leisure activities amongst Finnish seniors.
As most European societies continue to age, it is clear that future research should focus on the implications and the role
the Internet and other new ICTs will play in the everyday life amongst the ageing citizens.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original investigation
- Pages 1-8
- DOI 10.1007/s10433-011-0210-8
- Authors
- Matti Näsi, Economic Sociology, Department of Social Research, University of Turku, FI-20014 Turku, Finland
- Pekka Räsänen, Economic Sociology, Department of Social Research, University of Turku, FI-20014 Turku, Finland
- Outi Sarpila, Economic Sociology, Department of Social Research, University of Turku, FI-20014 Turku, Finland
- Journal European Journal of Ageing
- Online ISSN 1613-9380
- Print ISSN 1613-9372