Aging & Social Change: Thirteenth Interdisciplinary Conference

Abstract

Inequalities in working life do not end with retirement, not even in Sweden, with a comparatively extensive pension system and a general health insurance. Individuals, with shorter education, who have worked in low-wage occupations, do not only receive a lower pension. They also have, on average, poorer health and tend to receive poorer healthcare (Agerholm et al 2013). It is well-known how inequalities persist across the life course (c.f. Kendig & Nazroo 2015). But what happens when healthcare is digitalized, and citizens are directed to health services via online channels and platforms? Research on digital divides reveals how younger generations and socioeconomically advantaged people use and benefit more from digital services than less prosperous groups (van Dijk 2020). However, self-efficacy, a psychological factor, tends to have larger impact than several socio-demographic factors. Can self-efficacy have a compensatory effect or does it reinforce existing divides? In order to answer to the question, this paper draws on data from a survey of Swedish citizens, aged 65-90 years (SRS, n=1610), and a path analysis. The paper maps out how generation, education and occupation are positively correlated to professional experiences of computers, which in turn tend to promote self-efficacy as well as access to and usage of digital media in general, and online platforms for healthcare, in particular. The study contributes to research on digital divides in general, and specifically to how such divides interact with processes related to e-government and e-health.