Abstract
This study examined the pattern of use of different forms of contact between grandparents and grandchildren, and especially the use of new technologies (SMS, e-mail) and factors affecting this. Questionnaire data are reported from 408 grandparents in the UK, Spain, Finland and Estonia, regarding contacts with grandchildren mostly in the 10–15-year age range. Face-to-face contact remained the most frequent mean, followed closely by landline telephone; there was moderate use of mobile phones, and many used letters/cards occasionally; and a minority used SMS and e-mails (about one-half to one-third of those with mobile phones, and networked computers, respectively). When contacting grandchildren, most grandparents accumulate different forms of contact, but others compensate some forms of contact. There were no differences by age of grandparent, but grandmothers made more use of e-mail than grandfathers, as did more highly educated grandparents and those with older grandchildren. Implications for use of Information and Communication Technology by older people are discussed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Action Plan for Older People (Spanish Government, 2003–2007). [Online] Available. 4.4.2005 http://www.imsersomayores.csic.es/documentos/busquedas/registro.jsp?idDoc=621
Bell P, Reddy P, Rainie L (2004) Rural areas and Internet, Rural. American′s Internet use has grown but they continue to lag behind others. [Online]. Available 22.3.2005: http://www.pewinternet.org/pdfs/PIP_Rural_Report.pdf
Cherlin AJ, Furstenberg FF (1986) The new American grandparent. A place in the family, a life apart. Basic Books, New York
Commission of the European Communities (2005) eInclusion revisited: the local dimensions of the Information society. Commission staff working documents. [Online] Available 26.5.2005. http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/news/2005/feb/einclusion_en.html
COST Programme (2005) [Online]. Available 04.4.2005 http://www.codris.lu/cost
Dench G, Ogg J (2002) Grandparenting in Britain: a baseline study. Institute of Community Studies, London
Dimmick J, Kline S, Stafford L (2000) The gratification niches of personal e-mail and the telephone. Commun Res 27:227–248
Dimmick J, Chen Y, Li Z (2004) Competition between the Internet and traditional news media: the gratification-opportunities niche dimension. J Media Econ 17:19–33
Foley P, Alfonso X, Brown K, Fisher J (2003) Connecting people: tackling exclusion? An examination of the impact on and use of the Internet by socially excluded groups in London. Paper prepared by IECRC and Citizens Online for the Greater London Authority, London Developmental Agency, LondonConnects, and BT. [Online] Available 11.3.2005 http://www.btplc.com/Societyandenvironment/Reports/connectingpeople.pdf
Gilligan R, Campbell P, Dries J, Obermaier N (1998) The older generation and the European information society: access to the information society 1st project report: the current barriers for older people in accessing the information society European Institute for the Media, Netherlands. [Online] Available 14.3.2005 http://www.npoe.nl/pdf/aopis1.pdf
ITU World Communication Report (2003) [Online] Available 04.4.2005. http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/dai/index.html
Katz E, Blumler J, Gurevitch M (1974) Uses and gratifications research. In: Blumler J, Katz E (eds) The uses of mass communications. Sage, Beverly Hill
Selwyn N, Gorard S, Furlong J, Madden L (2003) Older adults’ use of information and communications technology in everyday life. Ageing Soc 23:561–582
Seniorwatch (2002) Old people and information society technology: a comparative analysis of the current situation in the European Union and future trends. [Online] Available 04.4.2005. http://www.seniorwatch.de
Smith PK, Drew L (2002) Grandparenthood. In: Bornstein M (ed) Handbook of parenting, being and becoming a parent, vol 3, 2nd edn. Lawrence Erlbaum, Mahwah, pp 141–172
Walker A (1999) Ageing in Europe—challenges and consequences. Zeitschrift für Gerontologie und Geriatrie 32:390–397
Acknowledgements
The research reported here was supported by the RTN project Grandparenthood and Intergenerational Relationships in Aging European Populations (contract HPRN-CT2001-00223) from the European Commission. We acknowledge the help of Galia Linchitz, Claudine Attias-Donfut and Alain Rozenkier in questionnaire development.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Quadrello, T., Hurme, H., Menzinger, J. et al. Grandparents use of new communication technologies in a European perspective. Eur J Ageing 2, 200–207 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10433-005-0004-y
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10433-005-0004-y