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Promoting positive self-perception of aging through internet use: evidence from a longitudinal study of older adults in the United States.

This study examined the reciprocal relationship between internet use and self-perception of aging (SPA) among older adults in the United States, focusing on individual changes over time. Analyzing panel data from 6,690 participants aged 65 and older in the Health and Retirement Study, random-interce...

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Published in:Social Work in Mental Health Vol. 24; no. 1; pp. 58 - 73
Main Authors: Wang, Kun, Guo, Yuqi, Dong, Yanjun, Park, Joonhyeog, Gu, Danan
Format: research tables/charts Journal Article
Published: Taylor & Francis Ltd Jan/Feb2026
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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      jtl: Social Work in Mental Health
      issn: 15332985
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    pubinfo:
      dt: Jan/Feb2026
      vid: 24
      iid: 1
      pid: 377
      pub: Taylor & Francis Ltd
      place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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        10.1080/15332985.2025.2542343
        190717387
      ppf: 58
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        atl: Promoting positive self-perception of aging through internet use: evidence from a longitudinal study of older adults in the United States.
      aug:
        au:
          Wang, Kun
          Guo, Yuqi
          Dong, Yanjun
          Park, Joonhyeog
          Gu, Danan
        affil: Department of Social Work, College of Arts and Sciences, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
      sug:
        subj:
          Internet Access Evaluation
          Self Concept Evaluation
          Attitude to Aging United States
          Health Promotion
          Health Behavior
          Human
          Male
          Female
          Middle Age
          Aged
          Aged, 80 and Over
          United States
          Prospective Studies
          Social Isolation Prevention and Control
          Mental Health Evaluation
          Health Services for Older Persons
          Digital Technology
          Socioeconomic Factors
          Models, Statistical
          Structural Equation Modeling
          Mortality Risk Factors
          Risk Assessment
          Retirement
          Questionnaires
          Descriptive Statistics
          Comparative Studies
          Coefficient alpha
          Race Factors
          Ethnic Groups
          Pearson's Correlation Coefficient
          Data Analysis Software
          Bivariate Statistics
          Middle Aged: 45-64 years
          Aged: 65+ years
          Aged, 80 & over
          Male
          Female
      ab: This study examined the reciprocal relationship between internet use and self-perception of aging (SPA) among older adults in the United States, focusing on individual changes over time. Analyzing panel data from 6,690 participants aged 65 and older in the Health and Retirement Study, random-intercept cross-lagged panel models (RI-CLPM) revealed significant within-person effects: increased internet use fostered positive SPA, and a more positive SPA encouraged greater internet use. These findings underscore the potential of internet use to promote positive aging perceptions, providing empirical support for internet training and interventions aimed at enhancing mental well-being, reducing social isolation, and challenging age-related stereotypes.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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