ABSTRACT
In an older version of this paper, the category names (user and non-user) in Table 1, “Characteristics of the respondents according to non-use of digital services” on page 602, were incorrect. This has been corrected. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022.
ABSTRACT
This study aimed to examine the associations of sociodemographic factors and factors related to physical, mental, cognitive, and social functioning with the non-use of digital services among older adults during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nationally representative data from Finland were collected between October 2020 and January 2021. The present study included 1524 respondents (response rate 68.2%, 56.6% female) aged between 70 and 100. The analyses were conducted with multivariable logistic regression. Almost half of the respondents did not use digital services independently. Those who needed assistance due to functional limitations, had insufficient energy in everyday life, perceived that their memory or ability to learn was impaired, had three or more members in the household, and lived in rural region had greater odds of being non-users of digital services than their counterparts. Thus, challenges to cope independently in everyday life, cognitive impairment, and rural living seemed to expose older adults to risk for exclusion from digital services. Factors may be interconnected, further weakening the inclusion of older people in society. It seems that adapting to rapid digital development and face-to-face service delivery constraints during the pandemic may have been particularly challenging for these vulnerable individuals. To ensure wider use of digital services, the natural decline in functioning with age should be noted, and older adults should be included in the development of digital services. Accessible support and traditional face-to-face services must be secured.
ABSTRACT
Background The COVID-19 pandemic may have increased the need for help and support for adolescents with disabilities. At the same time, moving to distance learning can reduce access to support services. Despite this, little is known about this issue. Thus, we investigated differences in the unmet need for help and support between adolescents with and without disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods We analyzed large population-based data from the Finnish School Health Promotion study obtained during 2019 and 2021 (2019: n = 87,215;2021: n = 91,560). The target group comprised adolescents from lower secondary schools in Finland (age: M = 15.3, SD = .64). Logistic regression models were applied to investigate differences in the unmet need for help and support between adolescents with and without disabilities. Results During the pandemic, adolescents with disabilities reported insufficient help and support related to their learning and well-being from teachers, school curators and psychologists, and school nurses and doctors more often than other adolescents (p < .001). Adolescents with disabilities reported more often than others that distance learning involved insufficient learning support (p < .001). Between 2019 and 2021, an increasing proportion of adolescents with disabilities felt that they had received insufficient help and support related to their well-being from nurses, doctors, psychologists, school curators, and teachers. To summarize, the COVID-19 pandemic reduced access to support and assistance for adolescents, particularly those with disabilities. Conclusions Policies in schools should be developed and resources secured so that support and help for adolescents with disabilities can be secured in exceptional circumstances. Insufficient support and assistance for adolescents with disabilities can impair their learning outcomes and health. Key messages • During the COVID-19 pandemic, adolescents with disabilities reported insufficient help and support related to their learning and well-being more often than other adolescents. • In times of crisis, support and help for adolescents with disabilities must be guaranteed.