Social Media Use and Impulsivity in Older Adults
Author Information
Author(s): Walton Allison, Moss Daniel, Stephan Abigail, Ross Lesley, Phillips Christine
Primary Institution: Clemson University Institute for Engaged Aging
Hypothesis
Is there a relationship between social media use and delay discounting in older adults?
Conclusion
More frequent social media use is linked with a greater preference for immediate rewards in older adults.
Supporting Evidence
- Delay discounting is the decline in the perceived value of a reward as the time to reward receipt increases.
- Individuals who discount more steeply favor smaller more immediate rewards over larger delayed rewards.
- Social media engagement is linked with higher delay discount rates in younger adults.
- The study found that delay discount rate was positively associated with social media use.
Takeaway
Older people who use social media a lot tend to want rewards right away instead of waiting for bigger ones.
Methodology
The study assessed delay discounting using the Monetary Choice Questionnaire and self-reported social media use.
Limitations
The study does not establish causation between social media use and delay discounting.
Participant Demographics
Community-dwelling adults ages 55 years and older, average age 68.64.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.035
Statistical Significance
p=0.035
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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