Internet use by informal caregivers in Chile: An analysis including age and gender perspectives

ABSTRACT

Objectives

This study explored the relationship between Internet use and informal caregivers’ characteristics.

Methods

We used the Chilean Sociodemographic Characterization Survey. A total of 86,172 informal caregivers were identified. We conducted a weighted χ² to test differences in 10 types of Internet use and weighted logistic regressions with caregivers’ characteristics as predictors of Internet use.

Results

Younger caregivers engaged in more types of use than the older ones. Education level was positively associated with all types of use, such as searching for information (OR = 3.52, CI 95% [2.34, 5.29]). Age was negatively related to Internet use. Women used the Internet more to communicate via social networks. Being single reduced the likelihood of performing certain types of use, such as information seeking. The number of people living in households has increased entertainment.

Conclusions

Older caregivers with lower education levels are at greater risk of digital exclusion. The same occurred in some types of use with single caregivers, where fewer people lived in the household.

Clinical implications

The Internet can be a tool for coping with caregiving tasks and their negative consequences. Interventions should consider these characteristics when promoting online tools and performing online interventions to reach the broadest possible audience.

KEYWORDS:

• Caregivers
• Internet use
• age
• gender
• sociodemographic characteristics

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available in [repository name] at http://observatorio.ministeriodesarrollosocial.gob.cl/encuesta-casen-2017. These data were derived from the following resources available in the public domain: Base de Datos Casen 2017 STATA and Libro de códigos Base de Datos Casen 2017

Notes

1. For more information about the sampling method, please visit: http://observatorio.ministeriodesarrollosocial.gob.cl/encuesta-casen-2017.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the ANID Millennium Science Initiative Program ICS2019_024 and ICS13_005. CM-C was funded ANID-FONDECYT-1191726.