Socioeconomic Differences in Access to Information on Health and Social Activities Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

This study examined differences in access to information on health and social activities by socioeconomic position (SEP) among community-dwelling older adults in Japan. A mail survey was conducted with 4,101 adults aged ≥65 years without functional disabilities. Information-gathering frequency and sources (television, newspapers/magazines, the internet, social interactions) were assessed. Educational attainment and subjective economic status were classified into three levels. Poisson regression models with robust variance and linear regression models were used to analyse associations between SEP and information access. Older adults with higher SEP were more likely to gather information regularly, particularly through newspapers/magazines and the internet, while television and social interactions were common across all SEP levels. Those with higher education tended to use multiple information sources. These associations were more pronounced for educational attainment than for economic status. Television and social interactions may be effective channels for reaching those with lower SEP.