Designing digital nature for older adults: A mixed method approach

Josca van Houwelingen - Snippe; Somaya Ben Allouch; Thomas J.L. van Rompay

doi:10.1177/20552076231218504

Designing digital nature for older adults: A mixed method approach

Josca van Houwelingen - Snippe, Somaya Ben Allouch, Thomas J.L. van Rompay^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

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Abstract

Objective: Loneliness and social isolation are pressing issues that can seriously impact the mental health and well-being of older adults. Interacting with nature can stimulate a feeling of connectedness. However, for older adults, access to nature is often troublesome because of physical limitations and mobility restrictions.

Methods: In the present mixed-method study, 37 older adults (62–99 years old) with varying care needs and mobility restrictions watched a video presenting a walkthrough of a simulated digital nature landscape.

Results: Quantitative results show a significant increase in social connectedness scores and enhanced peacefulness after experiencing a digital nature. Qualitative results stress the importance of variations in nature scenery and highlight the influence of contextual and person-related factors including nature experiences throughout the life span and mobility constraints that older adults may face.

Conclusion: These findings testify to the potential of using digital nature as a complementary strategy when interactions with outdoor nature become increasingly difficult due to old age.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1-14
Journal	Digital Health
Volume	9
Early online date	3 Dec 2023
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076231218504
Publication status	Published - Dec 2023

Keywords

Older adults
Digital nature
Digital interactions
Social well-being
Social connectedness

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10.1177/20552076231218504Licence: CC BY

ArticleFinal published version, 1.16 MBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "Designing digital nature for older adults: A mixed method approach",

abstract = "Objective: Loneliness and social isolation are pressing issues that can seriously impact the mental health and well-being of older adults. Interacting with nature can stimulate a feeling of connectedness. However, for older adults, access to nature is often troublesome because of physical limitations and mobility restrictions.Methods: In the present mixed-method study, 37 older adults (62–99 years old) with varying care needs and mobility restrictions watched a video presenting a walkthrough of a simulated digital nature landscape.Results: Quantitative results show a significant increase in social connectedness scores and enhanced peacefulness after experiencing a digital nature. Qualitative results stress the importance of variations in nature scenery and highlight the influence of contextual and person-related factors including nature experiences throughout the life span and mobility constraints that older adults may face.Conclusion: These findings testify to the potential of using digital nature as a complementary strategy when interactions with outdoor nature become increasingly difficult due to old age.",

keywords = "Older adults, Digital nature, Digital interactions, Social well-being, Social connectedness",

author = "{van Houwelingen - Snippe}, Josca and {Ben Allouch}, Somaya and {van Rompay}, {Thomas J.L.}",

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doi = "10.1177/20552076231218504",

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AU - Ben Allouch, Somaya

AU - van Rompay, Thomas J.L.

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PY - 2023/12

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AB - Objective: Loneliness and social isolation are pressing issues that can seriously impact the mental health and well-being of older adults. Interacting with nature can stimulate a feeling of connectedness. However, for older adults, access to nature is often troublesome because of physical limitations and mobility restrictions.Methods: In the present mixed-method study, 37 older adults (62–99 years old) with varying care needs and mobility restrictions watched a video presenting a walkthrough of a simulated digital nature landscape.Results: Quantitative results show a significant increase in social connectedness scores and enhanced peacefulness after experiencing a digital nature. Qualitative results stress the importance of variations in nature scenery and highlight the influence of contextual and person-related factors including nature experiences throughout the life span and mobility constraints that older adults may face.Conclusion: These findings testify to the potential of using digital nature as a complementary strategy when interactions with outdoor nature become increasingly difficult due to old age.

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KW - Digital interactions

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Designing digital nature for older adults: A mixed method approach

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Keywords

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