A Model of Computer-Mediated Social Support in Seniors

描述（由申请人提供）：美国的人口是 老龄化迅速，老年人面临社会孤立的风险， 身体问题和失去亲人。目前的互联网技术有一个 通过提供服务， 通过使用计算机提供社会支持。根据先前的研究结果， 在社会学、传播学和信息学中， 计算机介导的社会网络（CMSN），感知社会 CMSN支持与社区老年人心理健康 成年人提出了。本研究的主要目的是测试所提出的 模型该模型假设：（1）CMSN对感知有直接影响 社会支持;（2）CMSN对心理健康有直接影响; （3）来自CMSN的领悟社会支持对心理健康有直接影响。 （4）与互联网使用相关的选定因素将 影响CMSN。将采用以下方法进行单组描述性研究： 来自老年中心和退休社区的250名老年人样本， 接受由Eldertek，LLC提供的互联网培训。数据将被收集 通过电子邮件调查。描述性统计将用于描述 样本和二元相关性将用于评估简单 变量之间的相关性。结构方程模型将用于测试 模型与数据的拟合。这项研究将有助于目前 了解计算机使用对儿童心理健康的影响 老年人

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The population of the United States is aging rapidly, and older adults are at risk for social isolation due to physical problems and loss of loved ones. The current Internet technology has a great potential to enhance older adults' psychological well-being by providing social support through the use of computers. Based on prior research findings in sociology, communications, and informatics, a model that explains relationships among computer-mediated social network (CMSN), perceived social support from CMSN, and psychological well-being of community dwelling older adults has been proposed. The primary aim of this study is to test the proposed model. The model hypothesizes that: (1) CMSN has a direct effect on perceived social support; (2) CMSN has a direct effect on psychological well-being; (3)perceived social support from CMSN has a direct effect on psychological well-being; and (4) selected factors associated with the Internet use will influence CMSN. A single group descriptive study will be conducted employing a sample of 250 older adults from senior centers and retirement communities who received Internet training provided by Eldertek, LLC. Data will be collected via an electronic mail survey. Descriptive statistics will be used to describe the sample, and bivariate correlations will be used to evaluate simple correlations among variables. Structural Equation Modeling will be used to test the fit of the model with the data. This study will contribute to the current understanding of the impact of computer use on the psychological well-being of older adults.