Why am I still Marginalized?: A Study on the Heterogeneity of Digital Divide among Older Adults

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the diverse experience of the use of digital technologies for older adults, while also paying attention to the digital gap within the older adult group. In particular, based on the grounded theory, the long-term phenomenon and experience of older adults were analyzed. During the analysis, we developed a discussion on intra-group heterogeneity that could be overlooked in treating older adults as a group. For this purpose, in-depth interviews were conducted with 12 older adults aged 65 years or older who had experience using digital devices. As a result of the study, 54 concepts, 26 sub-categories, and 14 categories were found. The core phenomenon of ‘standing in the maze of the digital world’ was discovered, and the surrounding causal conditions, contextual conditions, intervention conditions, behavior/interaction strategies, and outcomes were presented as a paradigm model. This study provides guidelines for digital inclusion policies and interventions, including building a senior digital plaza that takes into account the heterogeneity of the older population and reflects the needs, desires, and limitations of each group.