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The meaning in life and smart technology of older adults during the Covid-19 pandemic: A cross-cultural qualitative study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 September 2022

S. Von Humboldt ,
N.M. Mendoza-Ruvalcaba ,
E.D. Arias-Merino ,
A. Costa ,
E. Cabras ,
G. Low  and
I. Leal
S. Von Humboldt*
Affiliation:
ISPA – Instituto Universitário, Lisbon, Portugal, William James Research Center, Lisbon, Portugal
N.M. Mendoza-Ruvalcaba
Affiliation:
Universidad de Guadalajara CUTONALA, Health Sciences Division, Guadalajara, Mexico
E.D. Arias-Merino
Affiliation:
Universidad de Guadalajara CUCS, Public Health Department, Guadalajara, Mexico
A. Costa
Affiliation:
Instituto Universitário, Ispa, Lisbon, Portugal
E. Cabras
Affiliation:
Universidad Antonio de Nebrija, Departamento De Educación, Madrid, Spain
G. Low
Affiliation:
University of Alberta, Faculty Of Nursing, Edmonton, Canada
I. Leal
Affiliation:
ISPA – Instituto Universitário, Lisbon, Portugal, William James Research Center, Lisbon, Portugal
*
*Corresponding author.

Abstract

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Introduction

The exponential increase of the older segment of the population (1) is coinciding with the growing challenges of a digital society in different socio-cultural contexts (2).

Objectives

This exploratory study aims to analyze older adult perspectives of how smart technology influenced their meaning in life during the Covid-19 Public Health Emergency period, using qualitative research at a cross-national level.

Methods

Three hundred and fifty one community-dwelling older participants aged 65-87 years were included in the study. Participants were Italian, Mexican, Portuguese and Spanish. All the narratives went through a process of content analysis.

Results

Findings of content analysis produced six themes: Meaningful relations, rewarding activities, spirituality, health and safety-related support, self-growth, and physical activity. Smart technology was important in promoting significant relations for Mexican older adults (71.3%), rewarding activities for Portuguese older adults (57.1%), spirituality for Spanish older participants (71.6%), and physical activity for Italian older adults (29.5%).

Conclusions

This study indicated that smart technology during the Health Emergency period was important for the meaning in life of older populations, mostly by facilitating meaningful relations, rewarding activities and spirituality. Future interventions with older adults during pandemic periods should consider the diversity of themes associated with increasing older adult well-being, from a cross-cultural perspective. 1. von Humboldt S & Leal I. The old and the oldest old: Do they have different perspectives on adjustment to aging?. Int J Gerontol; 9:156-160. 2. von Humboldt S et al. Does spirituality really matter? - A study on the potential of spirituality to older adult’s adjustment to aging. Jpn Psychol Res, 56;114-125.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.

Keywords

Older AdultsCovid-19 pandemicSmart technologyMeaning of life
Type
Abstract
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 65 , Special Issue S1: Abstracts of the 30th European Congress of Psychiatry , June 2022 , pp. S500 - S501
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the European Psychiatric Association
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