Page 44 - IJPS-11-1

International Journal of
Population Studies Age, gender, internet and older adults’ cognition

increasingly finding that Internet use provides an avenue While researchers are concluding that Internet use
for engagement in cognitive activities such as multitasking, has a negative impact on cognition among the younger
information processing and communication (Klimova, generation, there is great consensus in the positive effects
2016). Some studies have identified that cognitive ability of Internet use on cognition for older adults (Firth et al.,
in itself is a determinant of Internet use, with evidence 2019). Given the evolving understanding of digital
showing that older adults with higher baseline cognition technology’s impact, it is crucial to differentiate between
are more likely to gain benefit from Internet use (Freese age groups in discussing Internet use and cognitive
et al., 2006). Another study found that Internet use was functioning. According to the United Nations (2023),
a protective factor against health literacy decline among people aged 50 to 65 are classified as middle-aged, while
older adults (Kobayashi et al., 2015). those over 65 are considered older adults. Although the
Other studies have also found that Internet use research evaluating the moderating effect of age on Internet
improves health and financial decision-making, use and cognition is limited among middle-aged and older
suggesting that Internet use can improve the functions of adults, there is substantial evidence suggesting that as
the prefrontal lobe (James et al., 2013). In a longitudinal middle-aged and older adults age, the general cognitive
study assessing the impact of Internet use on cognition capacity for Internet use may decline, thereby reducing the
among middle and older adults in China, Yu & Fiebig effect of Internet use on improving cognitive functioning
(2020) found that Internet users were more likely to score (Firth et al., 2019; Freese et al., 2006). However, a meta-
higher on cognitive tests than non-users. Intervention analysis of studies assessing the relationship between video
research has also been used to verify that when older game training and cognitive functioning found that the
adults who engage in a computer training and Internet magnitude of this effect was moderated by participants’
browsing course have improved cognitive functioning age. Specifically, old-old adults aged 71 – 80 would benefit
compared to a control group (Shapira et al., 2007). These more from video game training than young-old aged 60
studies along with the neurobiological knowledge of – 70 (Toril et al., 2014). Another meta-analysis conducted
brain plasticity suggest that Internet use could be both by Zhang & Kaufman (2016) suggested a similar direction
a protective factor for cognitive decline and an avenue to that the younger group of older adults might have smaller
improve cognitive functioning. gains in cognitive functioning compared to the older
group, although age as a moderator was not statistically
1.2. The role of age in the link between internet use significant.
and cognition
1.3. Gender perspective
The role of age on the impact of Internet use and cognition,
especially among older adults, still remains a relatively There have been mixed findings regarding the gender
understudied area. Most of the literature focuses rather on differences in Internet use among middle-aged and older
the differences in Internet use between older and younger adults, which also affect the relationship between Internet
adults, and the way Internet use affects the cognition use and cognition by gender. Some studies have found that
of “digital natives” compared to “digital immigrants” there were no differences in Internet use between men
(Loh & Kanai, 2016). Digital natives refer to the younger and women (Friemel, 2016), while others have found that
generation, who grew up with the Internet and are men use the Internet more often (König et al., 2018; Van
therefore more proficient in Internet use as well as more Deursen and Helsper, 2015) and a study using the Health
prone to Internet addiction (Loh & Kanai, 2016). Research and Retirement Study found the opposite, with women
has shown that “digital natives” experience rapid attention using the Internet more than men did (Yu et al., 2016).
shifting, reduced deliberations, and increased multitasking The results for the role of gender on the impact of Internet
that leads to higher distractibility and poor executive use on cognition are also mixed and these stark differences
controls (Brand et al., 2014; Carrier et al., 2009; Ophir are likely a result of variation in measures of cognition and
et al., 2009). While Internet use significantly determines Internet use. Ihle et al. (2020), for example, specifically
the likelihood and benefits of cognitive functioning among assessed changes in the Trail Making Test over a 6-year
middle-aged and older adults, demographic factors such period based on the frequency of Internet use and found
as age, gender, and socioeconomic status also play critical that men had improvements in the test accomplishment
roles. Studies have indicated that affluent Internet users time and therefore smaller cognitive decline compared to
and those under the age of 65 engage more frequently women. On the other hand, Yuan et al. (2019) evaluated the
with the Internet, which underscores the intersection impact of smartphone use on cognitive health. They found
of socioeconomic status and age in digital engagement that men had better visuospatial ability while women had
(Keenan, 2009). better memory (Yuan et al., 2019). These mixed findings

Volume 11 Issue 1 (2025) 38 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.3119