NotesFAQContact Us
Collection
Advanced
Search Tips
Back to results
ERIC Number: ED630636
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2022
Pages: 161
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: 979-8-3684-3367-7
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
A Motivation-Based Intervention to Study Loneliness: The Gerontological User Experience in Learning on Facebook (GULF)
Anthony, Katherine
ProQuest LLC, Ph.D. Dissertation, Iowa State University
It is predicted that soon, as baby boomers continue their shift into retirement, the population age will soon hit its peak in the United States and across the globe (Mather & Kilduff, 2020). As seen with COVID-19, the United States is grossly underprepared for emergencies involving older adults, with excessive physical and mental health resources (Ranney et al., 2020). This is a concern compounded by the declaration by U.S. Surgeon General Vivik Murthy in 2017 that older adults were experiencing a loneliness epidemic that was impacting their mental and physical health. With the shortage in resources, one option to consider is examining existing resources to ensure they are fully utilized. One of those resources is technology--specifically, Facebook. Very few have examined what is motivating a person to use Facebook and the connection that may have to their loneliness. This dissertation fills that gap. The purpose of this study is to examine an older adult's motivation to use Facebook and how that may impact their experience concerning loneliness. This study's quasi-experimental design introduced an intervention to older adults (N = 19), compared to a control group (N = 22). The intervention was grounded in Ryan and Deci's (2000) motivation-oriented self-determination theory and guided by andragogical principles to guide the intervention using different Facebook features. Mean comparisons from pre- to posttest for the intervention showed significant growth in motivation, with nonsignificant decreased levels of loneliness. The control group had unremarkable decreases in motivation over time. Interaction effects, however, suggest that competence was significant between groups from pre- to posttest. These findings provide additional information into the relationship between older adult Facebook users and how the use of Facebook, and technology, may impact the lives of older adults, in consideration of future resource use. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway, P.O. Box 1346, Ann Arbor, MI 48106. Tel: 800-521-0600; Web site: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml
Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A