ABSTRACT
RESUMEN Fundamento: Los adultos mayores son un grupo vulnerable en el contexto actual de pandemia por COVID-19, debido al confinamiento su salud mental y física se deteriora; de ahí, la importancia del uso de Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación que contribuyen a su bienestar emocional, al favorecer las relaciones sociales. Objetivo: Identificar la relación que tienen las Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación en el bienestar emocional de los adultos mayores durante la pandemia por COVID-19. Desarrollo: Se realizaron búsquedas en PubMed, Web of Science, SciELO y LILACS con la utilización de los términos pandemic, COVID-19, mental health, emotional well-being, loneliness, social media, social connections, digital platforms, older people, elderly people, ICT y social networking sites. Se tuvieron en cuenta criterios de inclusión y exclusión. En estudios transversales se encontró una asociación entre el bienestar emocional y el uso de las Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación, sin embargo, un número importante de estudios empíricos identificaron la brecha digital como un obstáculo para que los adultos mayores pudieran usar las tecnologías como un medio para la interacción. Conclusiones: Los resultados de la revisión muestran una relación positiva entre el bienestar emocional y el uso de las TIC; se considera relevante continuar con la investigación en adultos mayores sometidos a confinamiento.
ABSTRACT Background: Older adults are a vulnerable group in the current context of the COVID-19 pandemic, due to confinement their mental and physical health deteriorates; hence, the importance of the use of Information and Communication Technologies that contribute to their emotional well-being, by favoring social relationships. Objective: Identify the relationship that Information and Communication Technologies have on the emotional well-being of older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Development: Searches were made in PubMed, Web of Science, SciELO and LILACS using the terms pandemic, COVID-19, mental health, emotional well-being, loneliness, social media, social connections, digital platforms, older people, elderly people, ICT and social networking sites. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were taken into account. In cross-sectional studies, an association was found between emotional well-being and the use of Information and Communication Technologies, however, a significant number of empirical studies identified the digital divide as an obstacle for older adults to be able to use technologies as a medium for interaction. Searches were made in PubMed, Web of Science, SciELO and LILACS using the terms pandemic, COVID-19, mental health, emotional well-being, loneliness, social media, social connections, digital platforms, older people, elderly people, ICT and social networking sites. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were taken into account. In cross-sectional studies, an association was found between emotional well-being and the use of Information and Communication Technologies, however, a significant number of empirical studies identified the digital divide as an obstacle for older adults to be able to use technologies as a medium for interaction. Conclusions: The results of the review show a positive relationship between emotional well-being and the use of ICT; it is considered relevant to continue with research in older adults subjected to confinement.