A Multilevel Model of Older Adults’ Appropriation of ICT and Acquisition of Digital Literacy

Eija Kärnä, Lotta Aavikko, Rebekka Rohner, Vera Gallistl, Kaisa Pihlainen, Claudia Müller, Anja Ehlers, Roberta Bevilacqua (), Stefano Strano, Elvira Maranesi, Katerina Cerna, Lisa Hengl, Franz Kolland, Franz Waldenberger, Gerd Naegele, Sieun Park, Moritz Hess, Verena Reuter, Susanne Frewer-Graumann and Kristiina Korjonen-Kuusipuro
Additional contact information
Eija Kärnä: School of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Eastern Finland, 80101 Joensuu, Finland
Lotta Aavikko: School of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Eastern Finland, 80101 Joensuu, Finland
Rebekka Rohner: Division of Gerontology and Health Research, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, 3500 Krems an der Donau, Austria
Vera Gallistl: Division of Gerontology and Health Research, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, 3500 Krems an der Donau, Austria
Kaisa Pihlainen: School of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Eastern Finland, 80101 Joensuu, Finland
Claudia Müller: Information Systems, esp. IT for the Ageing Society, University of Siegen, 57072 Siegen, Germany
Anja Ehlers: Research Association for Gerontology (FfG)/Institute for Gerontology, Technical University Dortmund, 44339 Dortmund, Germany
Roberta Bevilacqua: Scientific Direction, IRCCS INRCA, 60124 Ancona, Italy
Stefano Strano: Scientific Direction, IRCCS INRCA, 60124 Ancona, Italy
Elvira Maranesi: Scientific Direction, IRCCS INRCA, 60124 Ancona, Italy
Katerina Cerna: Department of Applied IT, MDI Division, Gothenburg University, 413 14 Gothenburg, Sweden
Lisa Hengl: Division of Gerontology and Health Research, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, 3500 Krems an der Donau, Austria
Franz Kolland: Division of Gerontology and Health Research, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, 3500 Krems an der Donau, Austria
Franz Waldenberger: German Institute for Japanese Studies, Tokyo 102-0094, Japan
Gerd Naegele: Research Association for Gerontology (FfG)/Institute for Gerontology, Technical University Dortmund, 44339 Dortmund, Germany
Sieun Park: German Institute for Japanese Studies, Tokyo 102-0094, Japan
Moritz Hess: Hochschule Niederrhein, University of Applied Sciences, 47805 Krefeld, Germany
Verena Reuter: Research Association for Gerontology (FfG)/Institute for Gerontology, Technical University Dortmund, 44339 Dortmund, Germany
Susanne Frewer-Graumann: Division of Health and Social Affairs, FOM University of Applied Sciences, 48155 Münster, Germany
Kristiina Korjonen-Kuusipuro: Juvenia-Youth Research and Development Centre, South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences, 50101 Mikkeli, Finland

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 23, 1-14

Abstract: Digital literacy refers to a set of competencies related to the skilled use of computers and information technology. Low digital skills can be a barrier for older adults’ full participation in a digital society, and COVID-19 has increased this risk of social exclusion. Older adults’ digital inclusion is a complex process that consists of the interplay of structural and individual factors. The ACCESS project unwrapped the complexity of the process and developed an innovative, multilevel model that illustrates how societal, institutional, material and pedagogical aspects shape adults’ appropriation of digital literacy. A holistic model describes factors contributing to older adults’ digital literacy, acknowledging sociocultural contexts, environments, learning settings and instruction practices for learning digital literacy. Instead of seeing older adults’ reasons for learning digital skills purely as individual choice, this model recognizes the interpersonal, institutional and societal aspects that implicitly or explicitly influence older adults’ acquisition of digital literacy. The results offer a tool for stakeholders, the research community, companies, designers and other relevant stakeholders to consider digital skills and the given support. It demands diverse communication between different stakeholders about the things that should be discussed when organizing digital support in digitalized societies.

Keywords: older adults; digital literacy; digital skills training; multilevel model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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