Media Gratifications and Successful Aging Among the “Young Old”

Abstract

Research literature about media use in aging has argued that the motivations to fulfill the need to connect with others or societies facilitate the elderly's use of media and has suggested that media contribute to their fulfilling life or successful aging. From the uses and gratifications perspective, this study examines how the elderly's use of media relate to their successful aging.

The results of a convenience sample survey in the Tokyo area (n=1644) indicated that most media gratifications may not contribute to successful aging among the Japanese “young old” (58∼70 years). Scores from the Morale Scale are negatively correlated with media gratifications, especially consummatory gratification in television viewing. This suggests that the previous view about the role of television in aging is invalid and may be too optimistic.

In addition, the contribution of media gratifications to scores on the Morale showed little difference between retired and non-retired. This result raises questions about prevailing notions that the retired elderly lose motivation in their life and media complement their commitment to society and their social activities.

Although previous research has tended to accept the activity theory which supposes that communication would be maintained at an active level throughout the aging process, this study does not support this hypothesis.