When Health Drives Digital Engagement: A Study of Older Europeans

Madelín Gómez-León , University Pompeu Fabra
Aïda Solé-Auró, DemoSoc Research Group, Department of Political and Social Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra
Bruno Arpino, Università Di Padova

The rapid digitalization of everyday life has redefined how individuals communicate, access services, and sustain well-being. For older adults, digital engagement is increasingly recognized as a key component of active and sustainable ageing, yet many remain excluded due to health-related or skill-based barriers. Understanding how health influences digital participation is thus essential for fostering inclusive ageing in an increasingly digital Europe. This study analyses the role of health as a determinant of digital use among older Europeans, focusing on physical health-related measures. In particular, it will examine how health status and changes over time in key health indicators (mobility, vision, and arthritis) influence internet use among older Europeans, while also exploring cross-national and sociodemographic differences in these relationships. Data will be drawn from waves 5–9 (2017–2022) of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), encompassing adults aged 50 and over in 25 countries. The analysis employs fixed-effects lagged regressions to disentangle within-person changes and assess causal effects linking health and digital inclusion. By clarifying the extent to which health limitations act as upstream barriers to digital engagement, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of the disability digital divide and provides evidence to inform digital literacy and ageing policies across Europe.

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 Presented in Session P5. Health, Mortality, and Ageing 1