title: Factors influencing Internet usage in older adults (65 years and above) living in rural and urban Sweden.
abstract: Older adults living in rural and urban areas have shown to distinguish themselves in technology adoption; a clearer profile of their Internet use is important in order to provide better technological and health-care solutions. Older adults' Internet use was investigated across large to midsize cities and rural Sweden. The sample consisted of 7181 older adults ranging from 59 to 100 years old. Internet use was investigated with age, education, gender, household economy, cognition, living alone/or with someone and rural/urban living. Logistic regression was used. Those living in rural areas used the Internet less than their urban counterparts. Being younger and higher educated influenced Internet use; for older urban adults, these factors as well as living with someone and having good cognitive functioning were influential. Solutions are needed to avoid the exclusion of some older adults by a society that is today being shaped by the Internet.
authors.affiliation: Blekinge Institute of Technology, Sweden jessicaberner@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Berner
authors.affiliation: Blekinge Institute of Technology, Sweden; Linnaeus University, Sweden.
authors.forename: Mikael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rennemark
authors.forename: Claes
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jogréus
authors.affiliation: Blekinge Institute of Technology, Sweden.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Anderberg
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sköldunger
authors.affiliation: Karolinska Institute, Sweden; Stockholm University, Sweden.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wahlberg
authors.affiliation: Lund University, Sweden; Skåne University Hospital, Sweden.
authors.forename: Sölve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Elmståhl
authors.affiliation: Blekinge Institute of Technology, Sweden.
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Berglund
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D008297:Male; D012424:Rural Population / Q000639:trends*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population / Q000639:trends*
keywords: Internet use; older adults; rural and urban living