Culture effects in online social support for older people: perceptions and experience
Journal
Universal Access in the Information Society
Date Issued
January 1, 2014
DOI
10.1007/s10209-014-0346-3
Abstract
Technology in general and online support
communities in particular can play a key role in the lives of
older adults. However, these environments are not always
well understood or are often misused. This paper reports an
investigation of older adults’ perceptions and experiences
of online social support and Web use in Cyprus. A discussion
of the results from a similar study in UK reveals
interesting differences on the various levels of uncertainty
avoidance and collectivism in the two countries. The
described research has a culture-driven design approach
and aims to collect users’ perceptions of online social
support and Web use. Qualitative analysis of interviews of
three groups of older Cypriot users with different expertise
in Web usage was employed. The findings of this study
were compared to a similar study conducted with older
adults in UK. The significance of this study lies in understanding
better the role of beliefs embodied in a country’s
culture and affects older adults’ perceptions of online
social support and compares them with another culture.
communities in particular can play a key role in the lives of
older adults. However, these environments are not always
well understood or are often misused. This paper reports an
investigation of older adults’ perceptions and experiences
of online social support and Web use in Cyprus. A discussion
of the results from a similar study in UK reveals
interesting differences on the various levels of uncertainty
avoidance and collectivism in the two countries. The
described research has a culture-driven design approach
and aims to collect users’ perceptions of online social
support and Web use. Qualitative analysis of interviews of
three groups of older Cypriot users with different expertise
in Web usage was employed. The findings of this study
were compared to a similar study conducted with older
adults in UK. The significance of this study lies in understanding
better the role of beliefs embodied in a country’s
culture and affects older adults’ perceptions of online
social support and compares them with another culture.