Effects of digital literacy in older adults on life satisfaction

The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of digital literacy levels on life satisfaction in older adults. For this purpose, descriptive statistics, t-Test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation analysis, and hierarchical multiple regression analysis were conducted using the raw data of 10,097 adults aged 65 and older used in the 『2020 Survey on the elderly』. The main results of the analysis are as follows. First, the subjects used smartphones or tablet PCs for 6.38 days a week, 1.0 hours a day, and computers 3.5 days a week, 1.3 hours a day. They used 3.68 out of 11 functions of digital devices, and they used receiving messages the most and e-commerce the least. They were also the most uncomfortable using kiosks and the least inconvenient to use credit cards. Second, there was a significant difference in the usage rate of digital devices according to all socio-demographic characteristics, and quantitative digital literacy differed significantly according to most socio-demographic characteristics. In addition, there was a significant difference in qualitative digital literacy according to all socio-demographic characteristics. Third, as a result of hierarchical regression analysis, all socio-demographic characteristics, quantitative digital literacy, and inconvenience of using information devices had a significant effect on life satisfaction, and the explanatory power of the final model was 31.1%. Finally, based on the results of this study, suggestions for improving digital literacy and life satisfaction of the elderly and suggestions for follow-up research were presented.