Dissertation: Older adults learn digital skills better from peers than under hurried family guidance

In her doctoral dissertation in Social Policy, Viivi Korpela explores older adults’ digital inclusion, everyday digital skills, and digital services in the Wellbeing Services County of Central Finland. The findings show that although family support is often necessary, it does not always result in learning. In contrast, peer support helps strengthen both digital skills and a sense of inclusion in later life. The study also reveals that the Wellbeing Services County’s digital services often remain detached from older adults’ everyday lives. Korpela’s research challenges us to consider on whose terms the digital society is being built.

Welcome to the Public examination of the Dissertation!

Although digital services can make life easier, many older adults still view face-to-face encounters as irreplaceable, especially in health matters. Viivi Korpela in the picture.

Published

6.11.2025

Family help is essential, but it doesn’t always lead to learning

The research interviews highlight the paradox of everyday digital support. Family assistance is indispensable for many, yet it can also involve feelings of shame, frustration, or even excessive help: tasks get done, but skills do not develop. According to Korpela, this reflects a broader issue, as the responsibility for digital support often falls on families.

“Learning with family and friends often takes place in a hurry and in a one-way fashion: one person does the task, the other watches, and the atmosphere can be tense. In my study, peer tutoring proved to be an effective form of digital support that strengthens skills, encourages experimentation, and builds confidence. It also highlights older adults’ own expertise and active role in shaping a digital society,” Korpela explains.

Digital services are convenient in theory but distant in practice in older adult’s lives

Although digital services can make life easier, many older adults still view face-to-face encounters as irreplaceable, especially in health matters.

“One interviewee compared the Wellbeing Service County’s digital services to a Christmas wish list, saying there is so much to improve that even a child would struggle to ask for so many gifts from Santa. It is a perfect metaphor for how often usability fails to meet older adults’ needs” Korpela notes.

The group of older adults is highly diverse: some adopt digital services smoothly, others out of necessity, and some avoid them entirely. Yet digital inclusion cannot be achieved merely through new digital services. It requires listening to the people they are meant to serve.

“Digital inclusion is not a fixed state but an ongoing balancing act between personal needs, opportunities, and societal expectations. That is why I urge policymakers and service developers to see older adults as active contributors, not merely passive recipients of digital technologies” Korpela emphasizes.

FM Viivi Korpela defends her doctoral dissertation in Social and Public Policy "Signing in to society: Reflections on digital skills, support, and inclusion in later life". The opponent is Professor, PhD Loredana Ivan (National University of Political Studies and Public Administration, Bucharest, Romania) and custos Professor Sakari Taipale.

The event will be held in English.

Link to live streaming: https://moniviestin.jyu.fi/fi/ohjelmat/yfi-vaitostilaisuudet/suora-lahetys-vaitostilaisuus-viivi-korpela

Viivi Korpela

Project researcher

Other news

Dissertation: Patient freedom of choice can enhance public healthcare provision, financial incentives have increased the use of medical imaging in private clinics

M.Sc. (Econ.) Konsta Lavaste studied topics related to the special features of healthcare markets in his article-based dissertation in Economics. According to research, patient freedom of choice can improve public healthcare provision.

Lean production can enhance internal social responsibility, but dialogue with staff is key

In his doctoral dissertation on management and leadership, M.Sc. Timo Vilpponen investigated the significance of implementing a lean-inspired production system for an organisation’s internal social responsibility.

Dissertation: Social Media Shapes Care and builds Empathy Through Communication (Levonius)

Vilja Levonius’s doctoral dissertation examines how the use of social media as a professional tool in old age services transforms care and its practices, and how it builds empathy by communicative means.