Use of mobile phones, living arrangements and subjective well-being among older people: Evidence from a small survey in Japan

Background: After the COVID-19 pandemic, older people are increasingly expected to use information and communication technology to maintain social relationships and opportunities for social participation. Research Aim: This study examines how mobile phone use among community-dwelling older adults i...

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Main Authors: Keishi Ebisawa, Qin Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: International Society for Gerontechnology 2025-03-01
Series:Gerontechnology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journal.gerontechnology.org/currentIssueContent.aspx?aid=3605
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author Keishi Ebisawa
Qin Liu
author_facet Keishi Ebisawa
Qin Liu
author_sort Keishi Ebisawa
collection DOAJ
description Background: After the COVID-19 pandemic, older people are increasingly expected to use information and communication technology to maintain social relationships and opportunities for social participation. Research Aim: This study examines how mobile phone use among community-dwelling older adults is related to subjective well-being (SWB). In particular, this study analyzes both social connections through online means, focusing on the purpose of mobile phone use, and real-life connections, which are based on household composition and the residential location of children. Methods: A postal questionnaire survey was conducted in 2023 targeting residents aged 65 and over living in a city in Japan with a population structure similar to the national average. From a pool of individuals aged 65 and over, 804 participants were randomly selected through simple random sampling and received the survey. There were 280 valid respondents (valid response rate: 34.8%). Results: Multiple regression analysis revealed that the use of mobile phones for calls and map searches had a statistically positive relationship with subjective well-being (SWB). On the other hand, household composition and the residential location of children were not statistically significant. Conclusion: Among the purposes of use, ‘calls’ and ‘map searches’ were suggested to contribute to the improvement of subjective well-being among older adults.
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spelling doaj-art-6271051565a54a22a642d36c76b29dd92025-08-20T02:06:19ZengInternational Society for GerontechnologyGerontechnology1569-11011569-111X2025-03-012421810.4017/gt.2025.24.2.1187.3Use of mobile phones, living arrangements and subjective well-being among older people: Evidence from a small survey in JapanKeishi Ebisawa0Qin Liu1Department of Health Sciences and Social Welfare, Faculty of Human Sciences, Waseda University, Tokorozawa, Saitama, JapanResearch Institute of Social Development, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaBackground: After the COVID-19 pandemic, older people are increasingly expected to use information and communication technology to maintain social relationships and opportunities for social participation. Research Aim: This study examines how mobile phone use among community-dwelling older adults is related to subjective well-being (SWB). In particular, this study analyzes both social connections through online means, focusing on the purpose of mobile phone use, and real-life connections, which are based on household composition and the residential location of children. Methods: A postal questionnaire survey was conducted in 2023 targeting residents aged 65 and over living in a city in Japan with a population structure similar to the national average. From a pool of individuals aged 65 and over, 804 participants were randomly selected through simple random sampling and received the survey. There were 280 valid respondents (valid response rate: 34.8%). Results: Multiple regression analysis revealed that the use of mobile phones for calls and map searches had a statistically positive relationship with subjective well-being (SWB). On the other hand, household composition and the residential location of children were not statistically significant. Conclusion: Among the purposes of use, ‘calls’ and ‘map searches’ were suggested to contribute to the improvement of subjective well-being among older adults.https://journal.gerontechnology.org/currentIssueContent.aspx?aid=3605mobile phonesliving arrangementssubjective well-beingolder peoplejapan
spellingShingle Keishi Ebisawa
Qin Liu
Use of mobile phones, living arrangements and subjective well-being among older people: Evidence from a small survey in Japan
Gerontechnology
mobile phones
living arrangements
subjective well-being
older people
japan
title Use of mobile phones, living arrangements and subjective well-being among older people: Evidence from a small survey in Japan
title_full Use of mobile phones, living arrangements and subjective well-being among older people: Evidence from a small survey in Japan
title_fullStr Use of mobile phones, living arrangements and subjective well-being among older people: Evidence from a small survey in Japan
title_full_unstemmed Use of mobile phones, living arrangements and subjective well-being among older people: Evidence from a small survey in Japan
title_short Use of mobile phones, living arrangements and subjective well-being among older people: Evidence from a small survey in Japan
title_sort use of mobile phones living arrangements and subjective well being among older people evidence from a small survey in japan
topic mobile phones
living arrangements
subjective well-being
older people
japan
url https://journal.gerontechnology.org/currentIssueContent.aspx?aid=3605
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AT qinliu useofmobilephoneslivingarrangementsandsubjectivewellbeingamongolderpeopleevidencefromasmallsurveyinjapan