A study of the deconstruction and construction of self-efficacy in internet use among older people

Internet use is related to self-efficacy among older people. This study used a grounded theory research method to explore the construction of self-efficacy in the experience of Internet use among older people through in-depth interviews. Based on continuous comparative analysis, we concluded that use of the Internet by older people brought about the "abnormal" in their perception. They experienced deconstruction of the "abnormal" and construction of the "normal" in terms of the self-efficacy story line for Internet use. The core categories of these experiences included curiosity, confusion, fear, comparison, reflection, and empowerment. Taken together, these aspects reflected the process of reconstructing older people' s self-efficacy. This reconstruction could not be separated from situational conditions, goal orientation, and functional induction, and also formed a system for seeking self-meaning, preventing vulnerability, and maintaining dignity. These findings provide a basis for policy recommendations and interventions to develop social support networks for older people.