Current - Issue
Original Article
Digital Social Participation and Loneliness Among Older Adults: The Mediating Roles of Social Connectedness and Perceived Autonomy
Dr. Johnson MM1
Dr. Lekshmi S Kaimal2
1, 2 Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, CMS College Kottayam, Kerala, India.
Published Online: July-August 2026
Pages: 05-14
Cite this article
No DOIReferences
1. Abraham, A., Anoop, P. S., Johnson, R. M., Saseendran, A. K., & Biju, M. K. (2025a). Determinants of health-related quality of life in
elderly in Kerala. Mental Health, 67, 25-31.
2. Abraham, A., Anoop, P. S., Johnson, R. M., Saseendran, A. K., & Biju, M. K. (2025b). Women and men in midlife crisis: an evaluationrom holistic approach.
3. Anoop, P. S., & Biju, M. K. (2025a). NEXT-DAY TO NEAR-TERM CARDAMOM PRICE PREDICTION IN KERALA VIA MULTI-
MODEL FUSION AND XGBOOST. Annals of the University of Petroşani. Economics, 25(2), 77-96.
4. Anoop, P. S., & Biju, M. K. (2025b). Sustainable financial behavior and its determinants from an individual's perspective: A literature
synthesis. International Journal of Research in Engineering and Applied Management, 10(12), 1-2.
5. Anoop, P. S., Abraham, A., Saseendran, A. K., Johnson, R. M., & Biju, M. K. (2025). The impact of artificial intelligence on job
displacement and skill requirements: A study of the manufacturing sector. International Journal of Economics and Business Research,
15(4), 112-128.
6. Chen, Y.-R. R., & Schulz, P. J. (2016). The effect of information communication technology interventions on reducing social isolation in
the elderly: A systematic review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 18(1), e18.
7. Cotten, S. R., Anderson, W. A., & McCullough, B. M. (2013). Impact of internet use on loneliness and contact with others among older
adults. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 15(2), e39.
8. Czaja, S. J., Boot, W. R., Charness, N., Rogers, W. A., & Sharit, J. (2018). Improving social support for older adults through technology:
Findings from the PRISM randomized controlled trial. The Gerontologist, 58(3), 467–477.
9. Fang, Y., Chau, A. K. C., Wong, A., Fung, H. H., & Woo, J. (2018). Information and communication technology use and life satisfaction
among older adults: The mediating role of social connectedness. Aging & Mental Health, 22(11), 1516–1524.
10. Hair, J. F., Black, W. C., Babin, B. J., & Anderson, R. E. (2022). Multivariate data analysis (9th ed.). Cengage Learning.
11. Heo, J., Chun, S., Lee, S., Lee, K. H., & Kim, J. (2015). Internet use and well-being in older adults. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and
Social Networking, 18(5), 268–272.
12. Huxhold, O., Miche, M., & Schüz, B. (2014). Benefits of having friends in older ages: Differential effects of informal social activities on
well-being. Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 69(3), 366–375.
13. Johnson, M. M. (2015a). Consumer society as polluted society: The sociology of waste and planned obsolescence. Scholars Bulletin, 1(10),
289–293.
14. Johnson, M. M. (2015b). Climate migration and the remaking of community: A sociological perspective. Scholars Journal of Arts,
Humanities and Social Sciences, 3(9B), 1515–1520. https://doi.org/10.36347/sjahss.2015.v03i09.021
15. Johnson, M. M. (2025). Consumer society as polluted society: The sociology of waste and planned obsolescence. Scholars Bulletin.
16. Johnson, M. M. (2026). Power, politics and the planet: A political sociology of sustainable development. Ecology, Environment and
Conservation, 32(1), 326–332. https://doi.org/10.53550/EEC.2026.v32i01.056
17. Johnson, M. M., & Nair, S. B. (2017). Role of old age policies and programmes in an ageing India: Special reference to Kerala. ISDA
Journal: Studies in Development and Public Policy, 27(4).
18. Kaimal, L. S., & Johnson, M. M. (2023). TV serials and reinstating stereo types: Cultural image and perception among women audiences.
ISDA Journal: Studies in Development and Public Policy, 33(1), 69–86.
19. Kaimal, L. S., & Johnson, M. M. (2024). Women entrepreneurship and changing scenario of empowerment: Options and challenges.
Malayalam Research Journal, 17(1), 6481–6501.
20. Kaimal, L. S., & Johnson, M. M. (2025). From the frontlines to resilience: Perceived stress and coping strategies of female nurses in the
pandemic context. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Educational Research, 14(5[3]), 34–40.
21. Khosravi, P., Rezvani, A., & Wiewiora, A. (2016). The impact of technology on older adults’ social isolation. Computers in Human
Behavior, 63, 594–603.
22. Kline, R. B. (2023). Principles and practice of structural equation modeling (5th ed.). The Guilford Press.
23. Lee, P. S. N., Leung, L., Lo, V., Xiong, C., & Wu, T. (2011). Internet communication versus face-to-face interaction in quality of life.
Social Indicators Research, 100(3), 375–389.
24. Mellor, D., Stokes, M., Firth, L., Hayashi, Y., & Cummins, R. (2008). Need for belonging, relationship satisfaction, loneliness, and life
satisfaction. Personality and Individual Differences, 45(3), 213–218.
25. Quan-Haase, A., Mo, G. Y., & Wellman, B. (2017). Connected seniors: How older adults exchange social support online and offline.
Information, Communication & Society, 20(7), 967–983.
26. Ryan, Richard M., & Deci, E. L. (2000). Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and
well-being. American Psychologist, 55(1), 68–78. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.55.1.68
27. Saseendran, A. K., Johnson, R. M., Anoop, P. S., Abraham, A., & Biju, M. K. (2025). The impact of workplace flexibility on financial
well-being and employee productivity in the finance and banking sector: A comprehensive study. Journal of Banking and Finance
Psychology, 14(3), 201-218.
28. Seifert, A., Cotten, S. R., & Xie, B. (2021). A double burden of exclusion? Digital and social exclusion of older adults during the COVID-
19 pandemic. Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 76(3), e99–e103.
29. Van Boekel, L. C., Peek, S. T. M., & Luijkx, K. G. (2017). Diversity in older adults’ use of the internet: Identifying subgroups through
latent class analysis. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 19(5), e180.
30. Victor, C. R., Scambler, S., Bowling, A., & Bond, J. (2005). The prevalence of, and risk factors for, loneliness in later life. Ageing &
Society, 25(6), 357–375.
31. Yu, R., et al. (2021). Association between social participation and loneliness among older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
BMC Geriatrics, 21(1), 125.
elderly in Kerala. Mental Health, 67, 25-31.
2. Abraham, A., Anoop, P. S., Johnson, R. M., Saseendran, A. K., & Biju, M. K. (2025b). Women and men in midlife crisis: an evaluationrom holistic approach.
3. Anoop, P. S., & Biju, M. K. (2025a). NEXT-DAY TO NEAR-TERM CARDAMOM PRICE PREDICTION IN KERALA VIA MULTI-
MODEL FUSION AND XGBOOST. Annals of the University of Petroşani. Economics, 25(2), 77-96.
4. Anoop, P. S., & Biju, M. K. (2025b). Sustainable financial behavior and its determinants from an individual's perspective: A literature
synthesis. International Journal of Research in Engineering and Applied Management, 10(12), 1-2.
5. Anoop, P. S., Abraham, A., Saseendran, A. K., Johnson, R. M., & Biju, M. K. (2025). The impact of artificial intelligence on job
displacement and skill requirements: A study of the manufacturing sector. International Journal of Economics and Business Research,
15(4), 112-128.
6. Chen, Y.-R. R., & Schulz, P. J. (2016). The effect of information communication technology interventions on reducing social isolation in
the elderly: A systematic review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 18(1), e18.
7. Cotten, S. R., Anderson, W. A., & McCullough, B. M. (2013). Impact of internet use on loneliness and contact with others among older
adults. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 15(2), e39.
8. Czaja, S. J., Boot, W. R., Charness, N., Rogers, W. A., & Sharit, J. (2018). Improving social support for older adults through technology:
Findings from the PRISM randomized controlled trial. The Gerontologist, 58(3), 467–477.
9. Fang, Y., Chau, A. K. C., Wong, A., Fung, H. H., & Woo, J. (2018). Information and communication technology use and life satisfaction
among older adults: The mediating role of social connectedness. Aging & Mental Health, 22(11), 1516–1524.
10. Hair, J. F., Black, W. C., Babin, B. J., & Anderson, R. E. (2022). Multivariate data analysis (9th ed.). Cengage Learning.
11. Heo, J., Chun, S., Lee, S., Lee, K. H., & Kim, J. (2015). Internet use and well-being in older adults. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and
Social Networking, 18(5), 268–272.
12. Huxhold, O., Miche, M., & Schüz, B. (2014). Benefits of having friends in older ages: Differential effects of informal social activities on
well-being. Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 69(3), 366–375.
13. Johnson, M. M. (2015a). Consumer society as polluted society: The sociology of waste and planned obsolescence. Scholars Bulletin, 1(10),
289–293.
14. Johnson, M. M. (2015b). Climate migration and the remaking of community: A sociological perspective. Scholars Journal of Arts,
Humanities and Social Sciences, 3(9B), 1515–1520. https://doi.org/10.36347/sjahss.2015.v03i09.021
15. Johnson, M. M. (2025). Consumer society as polluted society: The sociology of waste and planned obsolescence. Scholars Bulletin.
16. Johnson, M. M. (2026). Power, politics and the planet: A political sociology of sustainable development. Ecology, Environment and
Conservation, 32(1), 326–332. https://doi.org/10.53550/EEC.2026.v32i01.056
17. Johnson, M. M., & Nair, S. B. (2017). Role of old age policies and programmes in an ageing India: Special reference to Kerala. ISDA
Journal: Studies in Development and Public Policy, 27(4).
18. Kaimal, L. S., & Johnson, M. M. (2023). TV serials and reinstating stereo types: Cultural image and perception among women audiences.
ISDA Journal: Studies in Development and Public Policy, 33(1), 69–86.
19. Kaimal, L. S., & Johnson, M. M. (2024). Women entrepreneurship and changing scenario of empowerment: Options and challenges.
Malayalam Research Journal, 17(1), 6481–6501.
20. Kaimal, L. S., & Johnson, M. M. (2025). From the frontlines to resilience: Perceived stress and coping strategies of female nurses in the
pandemic context. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Educational Research, 14(5[3]), 34–40.
21. Khosravi, P., Rezvani, A., & Wiewiora, A. (2016). The impact of technology on older adults’ social isolation. Computers in Human
Behavior, 63, 594–603.
22. Kline, R. B. (2023). Principles and practice of structural equation modeling (5th ed.). The Guilford Press.
23. Lee, P. S. N., Leung, L., Lo, V., Xiong, C., & Wu, T. (2011). Internet communication versus face-to-face interaction in quality of life.
Social Indicators Research, 100(3), 375–389.
24. Mellor, D., Stokes, M., Firth, L., Hayashi, Y., & Cummins, R. (2008). Need for belonging, relationship satisfaction, loneliness, and life
satisfaction. Personality and Individual Differences, 45(3), 213–218.
25. Quan-Haase, A., Mo, G. Y., & Wellman, B. (2017). Connected seniors: How older adults exchange social support online and offline.
Information, Communication & Society, 20(7), 967–983.
26. Ryan, Richard M., & Deci, E. L. (2000). Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and
well-being. American Psychologist, 55(1), 68–78. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.55.1.68
27. Saseendran, A. K., Johnson, R. M., Anoop, P. S., Abraham, A., & Biju, M. K. (2025). The impact of workplace flexibility on financial
well-being and employee productivity in the finance and banking sector: A comprehensive study. Journal of Banking and Finance
Psychology, 14(3), 201-218.
28. Seifert, A., Cotten, S. R., & Xie, B. (2021). A double burden of exclusion? Digital and social exclusion of older adults during the COVID-
19 pandemic. Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 76(3), e99–e103.
29. Van Boekel, L. C., Peek, S. T. M., & Luijkx, K. G. (2017). Diversity in older adults’ use of the internet: Identifying subgroups through
latent class analysis. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 19(5), e180.
30. Victor, C. R., Scambler, S., Bowling, A., & Bond, J. (2005). The prevalence of, and risk factors for, loneliness in later life. Ageing &
Society, 25(6), 357–375.
31. Yu, R., et al. (2021). Association between social participation and loneliness among older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
BMC Geriatrics, 21(1), 125.
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