Skip to main content
Top

2021 | OriginalPaper | Chapter

Role of Social Media in Coping with COVID-19 Stress: Searching for Intergenerational Perspectives

Authors : Najmeh Khalili-Mahani, Sasha Elbaz, Amber Pahayahay, Janis Timm-Bottos

Published in: Social Computing and Social Media: Applications in Marketing, Learning, and Health

Publisher: Springer International Publishing

Activate our intelligent search to find suitable subject content or patents.

search-config
loading …

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated demand for screen-mediated social connections. The drivers of digitization of socialization are often young and social-media savvy individuals who wish to alleviate the stress of social isolation for seniors. To design successful programs, it is important to first consider intergenerational differences in both the experience of COVID-19 stress, and the affordances of technology. In this mixed-methods study, we aimed to investigate perceptual differences in how social media can assist older adults (65+) to cope with the COVID-19 stress. Data was obtained from two sources: A snow-ball survey (conducted between April - Sept 2020, n = 595); and scraping the public comments on mainstream media’s articles focusing on senior’s coping with the COVID-19 (7 sources, and 3390 valid comments). Quantitative analyses of age-related differences in attitudes towards social media, and changes in media usage after pandemic (in <25, 25–34, 35–54, 55–65, 65+ groups), indicated significant differences in what, why and how different age groups used the social media. Qualitative analyses of the comments revealed some intergenerational misunderstandings about one another’s coping needs. In general, older adults were less vulnerable to COVID-19 stress than were the younger, and technology was not their main resource for coping with social isolation. Nevertheless, communication technologies such as Zoom were important for connecting to older parents and grandchildren. These independent studies show that although technology plays an important role in keeping older adults connected, it does not address the stress of losing time to be together in person. These findings suggest that with the exception of Zoom, the usage of other social media for older adults has not changed from before the pandemic.

Dont have a licence yet? Then find out more about our products and how to get one now:

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

  • über 102.000 Bücher
  • über 537 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

  • Automobil + Motoren
  • Bauwesen + Immobilien
  • Business IT + Informatik
  • Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
  • Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
  • Finance + Banking
  • Management + Führung
  • Marketing + Vertrieb
  • Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe
  • Versicherung + Risiko

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

Springer Professional "Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

  • über 67.000 Bücher
  • über 390 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

  • Automobil + Motoren
  • Bauwesen + Immobilien
  • Business IT + Informatik
  • Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
  • Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
  • Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe




 

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

  • über 67.000 Bücher
  • über 340 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

  • Bauwesen + Immobilien
  • Business IT + Informatik
  • Finance + Banking
  • Management + Führung
  • Marketing + Vertrieb
  • Versicherung + Risiko




Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

Literature
1.
go back to reference Ollivier, R., et al.: Mental health & parental concerns during COVID-19: the experiences of new mothers amidst social isolation. Midwifery 94, 102902 (2021)CrossRef Ollivier, R., et al.: Mental health & parental concerns during COVID-19: the experiences of new mothers amidst social isolation. Midwifery 94, 102902 (2021)CrossRef
2.
go back to reference Medeiros, R.A., et al.: Prevalence of symptoms of temporomandibular disorders, oral behaviors, anxiety, and depression in dentistry students during the period of social isolation due to COVID-19. J. Appl. Oral. Sci. 28, e20200445 (2020)CrossRef Medeiros, R.A., et al.: Prevalence of symptoms of temporomandibular disorders, oral behaviors, anxiety, and depression in dentistry students during the period of social isolation due to COVID-19. J. Appl. Oral. Sci. 28, e20200445 (2020)CrossRef
3.
go back to reference Robb, C.E., et al.: Associations of social isolation with anxiety and depression during the early COVID-19 pandemic: a survey of older adults in London, UK. Front. Psychiatry 11, 591120 (2020)CrossRef Robb, C.E., et al.: Associations of social isolation with anxiety and depression during the early COVID-19 pandemic: a survey of older adults in London, UK. Front. Psychiatry 11, 591120 (2020)CrossRef
4.
go back to reference Gaeta, L., Brydges, C.R.: Coronavirus-related anxiety, social isolation, and loneliness in older adults in northern California during the stay-at-home order. J. Aging Soc. Policy 1–12 (2020) Gaeta, L., Brydges, C.R.: Coronavirus-related anxiety, social isolation, and loneliness in older adults in northern California during the stay-at-home order. J. Aging Soc. Policy 1–12 (2020)
6.
go back to reference Pecanha, T., et al.: Social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic can increase physical inactivity and the global burden of cardiovascular disease. Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol. 318(6), H1441–H1446 (2020)CrossRef Pecanha, T., et al.: Social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic can increase physical inactivity and the global burden of cardiovascular disease. Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol. 318(6), H1441–H1446 (2020)CrossRef
7.
go back to reference Leist, A.K.: Social media use of older adults: a mini-review. Gerontology 59(4), 378–384 (2013)CrossRef Leist, A.K.: Social media use of older adults: a mini-review. Gerontology 59(4), 378–384 (2013)CrossRef
8.
go back to reference Dumbrell, D., Steele, R.: Social media technologies for achieving knowledge management amongst older adult communities. Procedia. Soc. Behav. Sci. 147, 229–236 (2014)CrossRef Dumbrell, D., Steele, R.: Social media technologies for achieving knowledge management amongst older adult communities. Procedia. Soc. Behav. Sci. 147, 229–236 (2014)CrossRef
9.
go back to reference Freeman, S., et al.: Intergenerational effects on the impacts of technology use in later life: insights from an international, multi-site study. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 17(16), 5711 (2020)CrossRef Freeman, S., et al.: Intergenerational effects on the impacts of technology use in later life: insights from an international, multi-site study. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 17(16), 5711 (2020)CrossRef
11.
go back to reference Quinn, K.: Cognitive effects of social media use: a case of older adults. Soc. Media Soc. 4(3) (2018) Quinn, K.: Cognitive effects of social media use: a case of older adults. Soc. Media Soc. 4(3) (2018)
13.
go back to reference De Schutter, B., Vanden Abeele, V.: Towards a Gerontoludic manifesto. Anthropol. Aging 36(2), 112–120 (2015) De Schutter, B., Vanden Abeele, V.: Towards a Gerontoludic manifesto. Anthropol. Aging 36(2), 112–120 (2015)
15.
go back to reference Wong, F.H.C., et al.: Consuming information related to COVID-19 on social media among older adults and its associations with anxiety, social trust in information, and COVID-safe behaviours: Cross-Sectional Survey. J. Med. Internet Res. 23(2), e26570 (2021)CrossRef Wong, F.H.C., et al.: Consuming information related to COVID-19 on social media among older adults and its associations with anxiety, social trust in information, and COVID-safe behaviours: Cross-Sectional Survey. J. Med. Internet Res. 23(2), e26570 (2021)CrossRef
16.
go back to reference Eden, A.L., et al.: Media for coping during COVID-19 social distancing: stress, anxiety, and psychological well-being. Front. Psychol. 11, 577639 (2020)CrossRef Eden, A.L., et al.: Media for coping during COVID-19 social distancing: stress, anxiety, and psychological well-being. Front. Psychol. 11, 577639 (2020)CrossRef
17.
go back to reference Boursier, V., et al.: Facing loneliness and anxiety during the COVID-19 isolation: the role of excessive social media use in a sample of Italian adults. Front. Psychiatry 11, 586222 (2020)CrossRef Boursier, V., et al.: Facing loneliness and anxiety during the COVID-19 isolation: the role of excessive social media use in a sample of Italian adults. Front. Psychiatry 11, 586222 (2020)CrossRef
18.
go back to reference Zhong, B., et al.: Association of social media use with mental health conditions of nonpatients during the COVID-19 outbreak: insights from a national survey study. J. Med. Internet Res. 22(12), e23696 (2020)CrossRef Zhong, B., et al.: Association of social media use with mental health conditions of nonpatients during the COVID-19 outbreak: insights from a national survey study. J. Med. Internet Res. 22(12), e23696 (2020)CrossRef
19.
go back to reference Yang, Y., et al.: Social media activities, emotion regulation strategies, and their interactions on people’s mental health in COVID-19 pandemic. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 17(23), 8931 (2020)CrossRef Yang, Y., et al.: Social media activities, emotion regulation strategies, and their interactions on people’s mental health in COVID-19 pandemic. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 17(23), 8931 (2020)CrossRef
20.
go back to reference Cauberghe, V., et al.: How adolescents use social media to cope with feelings of loneliness and anxiety during COVID-19 lockdown. Cyberpsychol. Behav. Soc. Netw. 24(4), 250–257 (2020)CrossRef Cauberghe, V., et al.: How adolescents use social media to cope with feelings of loneliness and anxiety during COVID-19 lockdown. Cyberpsychol. Behav. Soc. Netw. 24(4), 250–257 (2020)CrossRef
21.
go back to reference Wong, F.H.C., et al.: Consuming information related to COVID-19 on social media among older adults and its associations with anxiety, social trust in information, and COVID-safe behaviours: cross-sectional survey (preprint). J. Med. Internet Res. 23(2), e26570 (2020)CrossRef Wong, F.H.C., et al.: Consuming information related to COVID-19 on social media among older adults and its associations with anxiety, social trust in information, and COVID-safe behaviours: cross-sectional survey (preprint). J. Med. Internet Res. 23(2), e26570 (2020)CrossRef
22.
go back to reference Khalili-Mahani, N., Smyrnova, A., Kakinami, L.: To each stress its own screen: a cross-sectional survey of the patterns of stress and various screen uses in relation to self-admitted screen addiction. J. Med. Internet Res. 21(4), e11485 (2019)CrossRef Khalili-Mahani, N., Smyrnova, A., Kakinami, L.: To each stress its own screen: a cross-sectional survey of the patterns of stress and various screen uses in relation to self-admitted screen addiction. J. Med. Internet Res. 21(4), e11485 (2019)CrossRef
23.
go back to reference Pahayahay, A., Khalili-Mahani, N.: What media helps, what media hurts: a mixed methods survey study of coping with COVID-19 using the media repertoire framework and the appraisal theory of stress. J. Med. Internet Res. 22(8), e20186 (2020)CrossRef Pahayahay, A., Khalili-Mahani, N.: What media helps, what media hurts: a mixed methods survey study of coping with COVID-19 using the media repertoire framework and the appraisal theory of stress. J. Med. Internet Res. 22(8), e20186 (2020)CrossRef
24.
go back to reference Khalili-Mahani, N., De Schutter, B.: Affective game planning for health applications: quantitative extension of gerontoludic design based on the appraisal theory of stress and coping. JMIR Serious Games 7(2), e13303 (2019)CrossRef Khalili-Mahani, N., De Schutter, B.: Affective game planning for health applications: quantitative extension of gerontoludic design based on the appraisal theory of stress and coping. JMIR Serious Games 7(2), e13303 (2019)CrossRef
25.
go back to reference LoBuono, D.L., Leedahl, S.N., Maiocco, E.: Older adults learning technology in an intergenerational program: qualitative analysis of areas of technology requested for assistance. Gerontechnology 18(2), 97–107 (2019)CrossRef LoBuono, D.L., Leedahl, S.N., Maiocco, E.: Older adults learning technology in an intergenerational program: qualitative analysis of areas of technology requested for assistance. Gerontechnology 18(2), 97–107 (2019)CrossRef
26.
go back to reference Pahayahay, A., Khalili-Mahani, N.: What media helps, what media hurts: a mixed methods survey study of coping with COVID-19 using the media repertoire framework and the appraisal theory of stress. J. Med. Internet Res. 22(8), e20186G (2020)CrossRef Pahayahay, A., Khalili-Mahani, N.: What media helps, what media hurts: a mixed methods survey study of coping with COVID-19 using the media repertoire framework and the appraisal theory of stress. J. Med. Internet Res. 22(8), e20186G (2020)CrossRef
27.
go back to reference Pokorny, J.J., et al.: Network analysis for the visualization and analysis of qualitative data. Psychol. Methods 23(1), 169–183 (2018)CrossRef Pokorny, J.J., et al.: Network analysis for the visualization and analysis of qualitative data. Psychol. Methods 23(1), 169–183 (2018)CrossRef
Metadata
Title
Role of Social Media in Coping with COVID-19 Stress: Searching for Intergenerational Perspectives
Authors
Najmeh Khalili-Mahani
Sasha Elbaz
Amber Pahayahay
Janis Timm-Bottos
Copyright Year
2021
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-77685-5_28