The association between out-of-home mobility and internet use patterns among people aged 60 and older

The internet is seen as a medium that enables older individuals with limited out-of-home mobility (OOHM) to maintain independence and social connections, but little attention has been given to their internet use so far. Utilising a previously developed typology of non-, basic-, selective- and allround internet users, aged 60 and above, and drawing on data from the Belgian Ageing Studies (N = 2,788), we examined the association between OOHM and internet usage profiles through multinomial logistic regression analysis. The findings indicate that individuals who did not use a bike or e-bike, drive a car or walk were more likely to be internet non-users or basic users, limiting their online activities to information searches and email communication. Additionally, by creating a dummy variable to distinguish between individuals with and without access to OOHM options, this study revealed that lacking OOHM options – not walking, nor using a bike or e-bike, driving a car, travelling by public transport or using on-demand public transport – was associated with a higher likelihood of being non-user. This association between OOHM and internet usage underscores the need for increased resources and support for older adults with limited OOHM to help them overcome barriers to internet usage.