Date of Award

2024

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Human Development and Family Science

Specialization

Developmental Science

Department

Human Development and Family Science

First Advisor

Skye N. Leedahl

Abstract

The quickly growing population of older adults in the United States, combined with an increasingly digital society post-pandemic, has illuminated the digital divide in recent years. The digital divide contributes to social isolation and, therefore, decreased quality of life in older adults, and intergenerational technology programming has demonstrated the potential to bridge this equity gap and keep older adults involved and productive in their communities and larger society. To expand the current literature on intergenerational programming, this study utilized a waitlist control design to strengthen the results gleaned from the University of Rhode Island (URI) Engaging Generations (eGen) Cyber-Seniors program on measures of quality of life (QOL), social isolation, loneliness, technology use, tablet use, and digital competence. By implementing a waitlist post-survey administered while participants were waiting to take part in the intergenerational technology mentoring program, we were able to see how directly the results were tied to the intervention versus natural life changes over time or other aspects of the program. Results from repeated measures ANOVAs showed that the URI eGen Cyber-Seniors program improved social isolation (p < .001), tablet use (p < .001), and digital competence (p < .05) from pre- to post-survey, but that loneliness (p < .01) seemed to improve mainly due to pre-program activities, such as the contact with research assistants to complete preliminary interviews as well as anticipation and excitement for the program. These findings strengthen the previous research on the program by examining the specific aspects of social well-being that the program influences. This methodology was a practical way to utilize the program’s waitlist, demonstrating a way in which to enhance the rigor of evaluation research methods that can be used within public programs.

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