Social Inequalities in Internet Use, Digital Skills, and Health Literacy Among Older Caregivers

Abstract Introduction Little is known about social inequalities in older adults’ digital skills and Internet use, which may also interact with health literacy. Methods The issue is assessed with the ninth wave of the quantitative cross-sectional panel data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). Data were analyzed using a Chi-squared test, and regression models were adjusted for demographic factors focusing on inequalities in Internet use, digital skills, and health literacy among older adults with and without informal care tasks. Results Informal caregivers reported lower digital skills (63% vs. 56%, p < 0.001) and were less likely to use the Internet in the past week (40% vs. 35%, p < 0.001) than non-caregivers. Informal caregivers were also more likely to constantly than never need help interpreting written instructions from healthcare (Odds ratio [OR]=2.03, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]=1.12 to 3.67), indicating lower health literacy than non-caregivers. However, older adults who were easily making ends meet reported higher health literacy (93% vs. 65%, p < 0.001) or more likely good to excellent digital skills (56% vs .19% p < 0.001) than those who were less financially secure. Conversely, older adults who were easily making ends meet (OR 2.06, 95% CI 1.75 to 2.43) and those with high education levels (OR 3.04, 95% CI 2.72 to 3.40) were most likely to use the Internet in the past week. Discussion Higher socioeconomic and non-caregiver status may predict better outcomes in Internet use, digital skills, and health literacy, emphasizing the need to address social inequalities.