The association between out-of-home mobility and internet use patterns among people aged 60 and older

Jorrit Campens, Petrus te Braak, Anina Vercruyssen, Myo Nyein Aung and Nico De Witte

Behaviour and Information Technology, 2025, vol. 44, issue 15, 3684-3700

Abstract: The internet is seen as a medium that enables older individuals with limited out-of-home mobility (OOHM) to maintain independence and social connections, but little attention has been given to their internet use so far. Utilising a previously developed typology of non-, basic-, selective- and allround internet users, aged 60 and above, and drawing on data from the Belgian Ageing Studies (N = 2,788), we examined the association between OOHM and internet usage profiles through multinomial logistic regression analysis. The findings indicate that individuals who did not use a bike or e-bike, drive a car or walk were more likely to be internet non-users or basic users, limiting their online activities to information searches and email communication. Additionally, by creating a dummy variable to distinguish between individuals with and without access to OOHM options, this study revealed that lacking OOHM options – not walking, nor using a bike or e-bike, driving a car, travelling by public transport or using on-demand public transport – was associated with a higher likelihood of being non-user. This association between OOHM and internet usage underscores the need for increased resources and support for older adults with limited OOHM to help them overcome barriers to internet usage.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1080/0144929X.2024.2447463

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