1) The document summarizes the results of a study on internet addiction among the elderly in Korea. 2) It finds that 7.7% of elderly internet users showed signs of internet addiction, which is the same as the overall rate in Korea. 3) Single and low-income elderly households seemed more prone to addiction. Those with less family/social satisfaction and more stress/loneliness also seemed more at risk.

1. An Exploratory Study on
the Elderly Internet Addiction
2013. 6. 25
Senior Researcher Jeong-hyeun Ko
(National Information Society Agency)

2. Content
1. Background of Research
2. Objectives of Research
3. Method of Research
4. Results of Research
5. Conclusions
2

3. Prologue




3

4. Prologue
Senior internet addiction case in China [KBS NEWS]
This case is about internet game
addict whom his son bought the
computer, for his older mom
seemed to be much bored and he
wanted to give her something like
amusements.
At first she could not use the
computer and internet.
But she gradually got absorbed in
the internet game, now skipping
meals, she enjoys the game very
much.
The reporter says internet addiction
among seniors becomes a new
problem in China.
4

5. Prologue
Senior internet addiction case in Korea [KBS]
 He is also so indulged in the
internet game that he has two
PCs, spending approximately 36
thousand dollars to buy game
items, and he doesn’t turn his
eyes on his little granddaughter
even though she visits him.
Now his son regrets buying PC
to his dad.
 Do you think these are extremely
abnormal cases that have
nothing to do with or can hardly
occur to ordinary seniors?
5

6. Prologue
6

7. Background of Research
 The elderly who go online increase rapidly.(22.9%, 1.8million)
elderly internet usage(60+, %)
16.5
21.8
17.6
19
22.9
20.1
11.9
10.1
5.2
2.3
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
< Source: 2011 status survey of Internet usage(KISA)
7
2011

8. Background of Research
 The whole usage period is getting longer.(average 7 years)
average internet usage period(month)
140
120
120
119
106.2
99.3
94.3
100
84.6
83.3
80
60
40
26.9
20
0
under 10
10s
20
30s
40s
50s
over 60
average
< Source: 2011 status survey of Internet usage(KISA)
8

9. Background of Research
 The whole usage frequency is getting higher.(once a day, 63.2%)
internet usage frequency more than once a
day(%)
120
97.8
100
98.5
91.7
85.2
79.5
80
65
64.7
63.2
50s
over 60
60
40
20
0
under 10
10s
20s
30s
40s
average
< Source: 2011 status survey of Internet usage(KISA)
9

10. Background of Research
 It has been debated on how to define Internet
addiction(IA) among scholars worldwide since IA
occurred as a result of common use of Internet.
 NIA defines IA as follows “status in which users who
excessively connect on the Internet shows problematic
symptoms of withdrawal and tolerance when they stop
using Internet use, resulting in a situation where they
must give up meaningful social and occupational
activities in order to use Internet.”
10

11. Psychological factors
Socio-environmental factors
Loneliness and alienation
Excessive survival competition
Helplessness & low self-esteem
Societal stress
Depression
Lack of alternative play culture
Anxiety
Unsound information culture
Family-related factors
Internet factors
When parents show addiction trait
Anonymity
Parental attitudes of raising
children
Convenience in money,
location, time
Family breakup
Fantasy, fun
Lack of trust in &
communication in family
Speed, immediate response
11

12. The total incidence rate of Internet addiction (%)
< Source: 2011 status survey of Internet addiction(NIA) >

7.7% of Korean Internet users between 5 and 49 were Internet
addicts.
12

13. The most likely adult group of being addicted with Internet
Whole
adults
20s
30s
40s
Under
graduates
Unmarried
(adult)
₩1m or less
(adult)
< Source: 2011 status survey of Internet addiction(NIA) >
 Adult students and unemployed adults tend to be more likely
to be hooked on Internet than the total average.
13
Unemployed/ others

14.  Four distresses of the elderly
Poverty
Loneliness
Rolelessness
Sickness
14

15.  Because of their physical,
mental, financial, social
conditions, elderly
people could be easily
drawn to the internet
and vulnerable to IA.
 Older adults may suffer
more harmful
consequences of IA than
the youth.
IT Times
15

16.  Investigating the characteristics of the elderly people's
internet addiction
 Helping them not be addicted to the internet
 Supporting them to make good use of it as their
leisure activities.
16

17.  Survey target : 233 senior internet users aged over 55
who are learning and teaching how to use the
internet in the senior community centers
 Method : Online questionnaire survey method
 Period : May, 2012
 Tool : Questionnaire
17

18. Items of questionnaire survey
categories
demographic
characteristics
status of internet
usage
diagnosis of
internet addiction
psychological
conditions
influence of
internet addiction
leisure satisfaction
item
number
8
4
15
4
contents
sex, age, occupation, marital status, familial status,
educational background, income, role
usage period, average usage time per a day, usage
services, main usage services
Korea
Addiction
Proneness
for
family relationships, personal relationship, extent of
felling stress, extent of feeling lonely
going
through
problems
due
to
internet
addiction or not, sort of problems(health, psychology,
relationships, money)
1
Scale
Adults(KS-A)
whether
5
Internet
extent of internet leisure satisfaction
18

19. 19

20.  First, the internet addiction rate in the elderly is 7.7%,
which is the same as overall Korean internet addiction
rate in 2011.
sample
number
category
%
internet addiction
group
high risk group
2
0.8
potential risk group
16
6.9
ordinary usage
group
ordinary usage
group
215
92.3
20
7.7%

21.  Second, single and couple / low income elderly
households are more prone to the internet addiction.
category
total
total
sample
%
upper 25%
sample
%
lower 25%
sample
%
live alone
65
6
100
9.2
58
5
100
8.6
161
69.1
48
73.8
34
58.6
live with child
38
16.3
8
12.3
13
22.4
5
2.1
3
4.6
1
1.7
2
8
0.9
3.4
-
-
1
4
1.7
6.9
below 1 million won
monthly
average
household
income
100
8.2
live only with spouse
family
233
19
47
20.2
16
24.6
4
6.9
1~2 million won
65
27.9
18
27.7
18
31.0
200~300 million won
63
27.0
16
24.6
16
27.6
300~400 million won
37
15.9
11
16.9
10
17.2
400~500 million won
12
5.2
1
1.5
6
10.3
over 500 million won
9
21
3.9
3
4.6
4
6.9
live with child and
grandchild
live with grandchild
live with parents

22.  Third, seniors who feel more satisfaction in relationship
with family and others and less stress and loneliness
are less vulnerable to internet addiction.
 Finally, seniors who undergo problems from internet
overuse, experience financial problems more than
health, mentality, social relationship problems.
22

23.  The researcher is able to confirm that the elderly could
be as addicted to the internet as the young and they
have plausible conditions vulnerable to the internet
addiction.
 But as an exploratory study, my study has some
limitations of small samples and using general adult
scale, not tailored to the elderly. These limitations
keep my study from exploring accurate characteristics
of senior’s internet addiction.
23

24.  Senior internet addiction
issue now lies underwater,
but it seems about to rise up.
 So it is required we pay new
attention to senior internet
addiction problem, and take
preliminary actions in
advance such as research,
counseling, prevention
education, training of
professional staff.
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