Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
Elderly's involvement with a society's information resources has been thought to indicate their social status. Moreover, as the societal status of information resources themselves is greater, the status of elderly may be even greater. Computer-based communication systems are leading the transformation of post-industrial societies from previously industrial to primarily informational. As elderly become effective computer users, they may enhance their social status and personal well-being. The present research examines effects of elderly's participation with computer-mediated communication on attitudes toward computers and themselves. A quasi-experimental design involving residents of a retirement community is used with a sample of 30 pre- and 13 post-treatment subjects. The treatment consists of using recreational computer games and computer messaging. Self-administered questionnaires and observer ratings are the primary data collection instruments. Results show that computer use may increase favorability towards computers and self-esteem. Also, the greater the degree of interactiveness of specific computer use activities, the greater user preference. Facilitator and inhibitors of elderly's interaction with computers are suggested.
Danowski et al. (Sat,) studied this question.