Media Use As a Substitute Activity in Old Age

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Activity substitution is frequently proposed to explain age differences in social behavior. This proposition can be tested with data on age, neighborhood participation, community participation, and use of media of mass communication. According to interviews with 60 women aged 62 to 89, neighborhood participation is independent of age, but there are significant age differences in community participation. However, sample data do not support the propositions that media use or neighborhood participation serve as substitutes for lack of social interaction in the community.