Digital Communication Among Older Workers: Evidence from the European Social Survey
摘要
Research on digital communication among older adults in work environments is limited, with most studies focusing on general communication or specific settings such as healthcare. This chapter aims to explore the patterns of digital communication among older workers (ages 50–64) in both vertical (with line managers) and horizontal (with colleagues) contexts, while identifying the factors that influence these patterns. A descriptive statistical analysis and binary logistic regression were conducted using data of 66,636 respondents representing 23 countries from the European Social Survey (ESS10). The findings reveal that older workers aged 50 to 64 years are less likely to engage in digital communication with both their line managers and colleagues compared to their younger (In this chapter, when we refer to older workers, we mean workers aged 50–64, and when we refer to younger workers, we mean workers aged 15–49.) counterparts. Digital communication among older workers is more prevalent in horizontal relationships with colleagues, while it is less common in hierarchical relationships with line managers. These trends vary according to the technological advancement of countries, as measured by its Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) score. Understanding these communication patterns can help develop strategies to enhance the digital engagement of older workers, ultimately improving workplace interactions, especially in hierarchical communication. The current research reveals gaps that need to be addressed in forthcoming studies of communication experiences in work environments.