Civic Engagement Among Older Chinese Internet Users

Definition: Connection and participation

 Better health  Increased sense of worth  Generativity through engagement  Decreased Loneliness /Isolation

 Social networks, support  Physical and Cognitive Activity  Regular structured activities

 Impact of technology on elderly understudied

 The OldKids of Shanghai, China  Learned and taught by older adults.  Classes usually lead to social clubs  Shanghai statistics

 33 members of one OldKids class  All 33 members were retired  Not random, but voluntary self-selection

 2 Separate Interviews Conducted.  Topics were varied.  Questions were altered as a result.  Data analysis based on grounded theory.

 Feeding the “Volunteer Machine”  Strong need to help others.  Active participation with others.

 Initially, clubs were extensions of classroom.  Became extensions of the neighborhood  Organization increased participation.  Interaction with government officials

 Starting & managing computer salons  Lobbying for resources to establish salons  Dramatic growth of Internet adoption in China  Led to better online information sharing & interaction

 Previous research studies of the internet  Internet facilitates community involvement

Political Participation Civic Engagement

 Historical & Political Context  Inclusion of “computer clubs” as a form of civil engagement

 Older Chinese are overcoming fears

 Limited to internet users in Shanghai  Future studies should include:  Less urbanized areas  Civic engagement not related to the internet

 Include other nations  Focus on the type of civic engagement  How to market this type of activity  How to get seniors involved

 Future social engagement of seniors  Give seniors a chance to expand their horizons  Facilitating to lower income bracket

 Bo, X. (2008). Civic Engagement Among Older Chinese Internet Users. Journal of Applied Gerontology. Retrieved May 2, 2010 from /cgi/reprint/27/4/424ntology, 27(4),