Associations of internet access with social integration, wellbeing and physical activity among adults in deprived communities: evidence from a household survey.

Item request has been placed! ×
Item request cannot be made. ×
loading   Processing Request
Read Online Read More Add to Saved list
  • Author(s): Kearns A;Kearns A; Whitley E; Whitley E
  • Source:
    BMC public health [BMC Public Health] 2019 Jul 02; Vol. 19 (1), pp. 860. Date of Electronic Publication: 2019 Jul 02.
  • Publication Type:
    Journal Article
  • Language:
    English
  • Additional Information
    • Source:
      Publisher: BioMed Central Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 100968562 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1471-2458 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 14712458 NLM ISO Abbreviation: BMC Public Health Subsets: MEDLINE
    • Publication Information:
      Original Publication: London : BioMed Central, [2001-
    • Subject Terms:
      Exercise* ; Poverty Areas* ; Social Behavior*; Internet Access/*statistics & numerical data ; Mental Health/*statistics & numerical data; Adult ; Aged ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Loneliness/psychology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Social Isolation ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; United Kingdom
    • Abstract:
      Background: There are arguments for and against the wellbeing effects of internet use, with evidence shifting from negative to positive over time, although the effects are partly dependent upon the population sub-group concerned. There are good grounds for anticipating that the internet could be beneficial to people living in deprived communities, but this group has rarely been studied.
      Methods: Data are from a cross-sectional, face-to-face survey of adult householders (n = 3804) in 15 deprived communities in Glasgow, UK. Respondents were asked whether they used the internet and, if so, how they usually accessed it: at home, via a mobile phone, in a public venue, or other means. Data were also collected on social contact and support, use of amenities, sense of community, wellbeing, loneliness, and physical activity.
      Results: There were inequalities in internet access within deprived communities, with use of the internet lowest among older people, those with a long-standing illness, and those with no educational qualifications. Some social benefits were associated with internet access, such as frequency of contact with neighbours, available financial social support, and greater use of social amenities and shops. Internet users were also less likely to report feeling lonely and had higher mental wellbeing scores. Respondents who used the internet were also more physically active. However, community cohesion and empowerment variables were very similar among internet users and non-users. Several of the positive associations with internet access were more marked for those who accessed the internet at home and for older people. These are new findings in respect of deprived communities.
      Conclusions: Extending internet access for people in deprived communities is worthy of further consideration in the context of government objectives for tackling social isolation and increasing wellbeing. The results also suggest that greater digitisation of public services may not result in greater cohesion and empowerment in deprived communities, as is often assumed, but rather has the potential to reinforce social inequalities.
    • References:
      Soc Sci Med. 2003 Sep;57(5):875-80. (PMID: 12850112)
      Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2003 Aug;35(8):1381-95. (PMID: 12900694)
      Int J Psychiatry Med. 2004;34(3):207-17. (PMID: 15666956)
      Int J Obes (Lond). 2005 Aug;29(8):925-33. (PMID: 15925961)
      Cyberpsychol Behav. 2007 Apr;10(2):234-42. (PMID: 17474841)
      Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2007 Jul;39(7):1067-74. (PMID: 17596773)
      Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2007 Nov 27;5:63. (PMID: 18042300)
      J Med Internet Res. 2009 Jul 27;11(3):e28. (PMID: 19666455)
      BMC Med Res Methodol. 2010 May 11;10:41. (PMID: 20459767)
      Pediatrics. 2011 Apr;127(4):800-4. (PMID: 21444588)
      Curr Psychiatry Rev. 2012 Nov;8(4):292-298. (PMID: 23125561)
      PLoS One. 2013 Aug 14;8(8):e69841. (PMID: 23967061)
      Cyberpsychol Behav Soc Netw. 2013 Sep;16(9):674-8. (PMID: 24028138)
      J Gerontol Soc Work. 2015;58(1):66-85. (PMID: 24941050)
      Psychol Health Med. 2015;20(3):332-44. (PMID: 25058303)
      BMC Public Health. 2014 Nov 05;14:1143. (PMID: 25373558)
      Body Image. 2015 Mar;13:38-45. (PMID: 25615425)
      J Exp Psychol Gen. 2015 Apr;144(2):480-8. (PMID: 25706656)
      J Appl Gerontol. 2017 Jan;36(1):3-28. (PMID: 26084479)
      Res Aging. 2016 Nov;38(8):864-93. (PMID: 26449627)
      Depress Anxiety. 2016 Apr;33(4):323-31. (PMID: 26783723)
      BMC Public Health. 2018 Mar 20;18(1):321. (PMID: 29554883)
      Am Psychol. 1998 Sep;53(9):1017-31. (PMID: 9841579)
    • Grant Information:
      MC_UU_12017/13 United Kingdom MRC_ Medical Research Council; 301367-01 Wheatley Housing Group; 301367-01 Scottish Government; SPHSU13 United Kingdom CSO_ Chief Scientist Office; 301367-01 NHS Health Scotland
    • Contributed Indexing:
      Keywords: Deprived communities; Internet access; Loneliness; Older people; Wellbeing
    • Publication Date:
      Date Created: 20190704 Date Completed: 20190923 Latest Revision: 20210110
    • Publication Date:
      20240104
    • Accession Number:
      PMC6604194
    • Accession Number:
      10.1186/s12889-019-7199-x
    • Accession Number:
      31266470