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Abstract
Senior citizens are often positioned as ‘have nots’ in the digital age, but internet use among older Americans ranges from 68 per cent among those just entering their senior years to 17 per cent of those age 75+. About 70 per cent of online seniors report using the internet for health information. This study uses grounded theory to explore online health communication among older Americans. Open-ended survey responses from 357 internet users age 55+ were analyzed. Selective coding categories were: empowerment, personal and professional communities, and watchdogs and peer assumptions. These themes are discussed in the context of health communication literature with suggestions for future research.
Notes
1 The online panel is an opt-in, informed consent, privacy protected ‘subject pool’ for Web-based research. Panelists are recruited from around the world through collaborative agreements with high traffic websites and online marketing efforts. Prospective panelist can learn about the panel by visiting: http://adresearch.advertising.utexas.edu/survey/online_panel/main.html.