Jess Francis

University of Michigan | U-M · Institute for Social Research

The aging population is not a monolithic group. Older adults’ experiences of and behaviors within their social networks are as varied as their diverse backgrounds and lifestyles. Although the threat of social isolation is particularly salient among older adults, the psychosocial and cognitive impact can differ along demographic and socioeconomic li...

Older adults who are childless and live alone are at risk for social isolation and loneliness. Studies show Facebook communication to be associated with feelings of mattering – the feeling that we are significant to others - a protective psychosocial resource. Despite being at similar stages in life, older adults, their technology use, and their ex...

Information and communication technology (ICT) use has been associated with well-being among older adults. This link is often attributed to the fact that technology use facilitates connecting with social relations generally. What is less known, however, is the extent to which distinct dimensions of social relations uniquely influence how ICT use af...

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted all aspects of people's lives, including how we work, play, learn, exercise, and socialize. Virtual reality (VR) technology has the potential to mitigate many of the challenges brought about by the pandemic, which has spurred increased adoption. However, relatively low adoption overall a...

The number of older adults at risk for social disconnectedness, loneliness, and the negative mental and physical health outcomes associated with each will reach unprecedented size in the next decade. Elder orphans, or adults aged 65+ who live alone and are unmarried and childless, are particularly at risk for social isolation. Prior research has sh...

This exploratory study examined both individual and dyadic predictors of variety of ICT use. Need for cognition is associated with engaging in a variety of intellectually stimulating practices and a prominent individual difference predictor of the types of ICTs people use. Participants were a subset of 542 heterosexual couples (N = 1084 individuals...

The tsunami of change triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic has transformed society in a series of cascading crises. Unlike disasters that are more temporarily and spatially bounded, the pandemic has continued to expand across time and space for over a year, leaving an unusually broad range of second-order and third-order harms in its wake. Globally,...

The digital divide limits the flow of potential students through the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) pipeline and into STEM careers. The digital divide is a dynamic and constantly evolving concept of digital exclusion that encompasses numerous dimensions and levels. The “usage access gap” and the “second-level divide” both...

Background: Telemedicine is increasingly used for Parkinson disease, but the perspectives of persons with Parkinson disease have not been systematically assessed. Methods: We therefore conducted a national online survey, and 781 individuals with Parkinson disease responded. Results: Of these, 76% indicated high interest, and 29% reported prior...

The propagation of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) applications that leverage smartphone technology has increased along with the ubiquity of smartphone adoption. Although AR and VR technologies have been widely utilized in the educational domain, there remains a dearth of empirical research examining the differences in educational i...

In this chapter, we synthesize prior empirical research focused on digital inequalities among older adults. We highlight studies that detail both antecedents and consequences of the digital divide. We also discuss popular theories and models such as the theory of reasoned action, the technology adoption model, and the senior technology adoption mod...

Information and communication technology (ICT) use can mitigate the negative impact of various age-related threats, such as isolation and loneliness, by facilitating connection with social ties and access to social support. Although research regarding various uses and benefits of ICTs among older adults has increased, there is limited research rega...

This study investigates older adults’ perceptions of mobile phone use during face-to-face interactions and social gatherings. Data were derived from 9 semistructured focus group interviews. Study participants were older adult residents of Michigan, US (N = 77). Focus groups were held in both urban and rural locations and our sample was heterogeneou...

Within the next 15 years, roughly 20% of individuals in the United States will be aged 65 years and older. As such, a significant portion of the population enters old age, it is imperative to understand the tools and mechanisms that may aid in the maintenance and improvement of older adults’ well-being. Information and communication technologies (I...

Older adults are the most digitally divided demographic group. The present study explores how older adults perceive the physical use of information and communication technologies (ICTs), particularly across generations and contexts. Data for the present study come from nine focus groups. Seniors acknowledge that ICTs help them connect with geograph...

Using information and communication technologies (ICTs) can improve older adults’ overall well-being and can be a catalyst for social integration and inclusion into society. While older adults are often compared to other age cohorts, based on previous digital divide research, there may be a significant amount of variation within older adult populat...

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) provide numerous benefits to older adults’ well-being, such as reducing feelings of depression. Previous studies show that ICTs are effective in promoting a sense of mattering, which has also been inversely related to feelings of depression. Our analysis examines the effect ICTs have on older adults...