Digital Engagement, Intergenerational Support, and Health Behaviors of Older Adults in Turkiye

Aslihan Kabadayi

This study reveals the relationship between digital engagement, intergenerational support, and health outcomes among older adults aged 65-74 in Türkiye. Using data from the Survey on ICT Usage in Household and by Individuals which is annual survey and conducted by Turkish Statistical Institute, the study examines how health-related digital technology use, measured as limitations in usual activities due to health problems ("severely limited," "limited but not severe," and "not limited"), affects self-reported morbidity. Digital engagement is defined as a multidimensional structure covering health-specific applications (e.g., accessing personal health data, online medical consultations, health information searches), communication technologies (email, video calls, social media), information access (online health content, news), online learning, and digital access to public services. The study reveals that older adults who use health-related digital technologies report better health outcomes, highlighting the role of digital tools not only as service delivery channels but also as mechanisms that empower individuals to access information, monitor their health, and make informed decisions. In particular, use for information-based health activities shows stronger associations with positive health outcomes. The analysis also identifies significant heterogeneity in digital engagement across age, gender, education level, household’s income, region, and household structure. Individual digital proficiency and the presence of digitally skilled household members are closely linked to older adults' digital participation. These findings highlight the need for policy interventions that specifically target the digital divide among vulnerable subgroups and offer conceptual and empirical insights into how digital skills and intergenerational support shape health outcomes in later life.

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 Presented in Session 59. Digitalisation, Intergenerational Relations and Wellbeing in Later Life