From Digital Engagement to in-Person Social Participation: Examining Associations Between Online Activities and Multiple Indicators of Social Participation Among Older Adults in Germany

Digital involvement shapes aging, with both positive and negative effects. This study examines how different Internet use types (social, information-seeking, entertainment) relate to older adults’ social participation, considering both objective (social activity level) and perceived social participation (loneliness and sense of mattering i.e., feeling important to others). Furthermore, this study examined whether digital skills moderate the associations between Internet use and social participation outcomes. Cross-sectional data from 426 community-dwelling adults aged 50-95 (M = 69.1) in Germany were analyzed using hierarchical linear regressions and moderation analyses. Social use and information-seeking were positively associated with objective social participation, while media streaming showed a negative association. More frequent social Internet use was associated with lower loneliness. Higher digital skill levels strengthened the negative association between social Internet use and loneliness. The findings suggest distinct associations between different types of Internet use and social participation, with digital skills potentially moderating these associations in later life.