Online social connections and Internet use among people with intellectual disabilities in the United Kingdom during the COVID-19 pandemic

Caton, S. et al. (2022) Online social connections and Internet use among people with intellectual disabilities in the United Kingdom during the COVID-19 pandemic. New Media and Society, (doi: 10.1177/14614448221093762) (Early Online Publication)

Abstract

Having a disability, in particular, an intellectual disability, is associated with Internet non-use. This article explores how people with intellectual disabilities used the Internet across the United Kingdom during the COVID-19 pandemic. In April to May 2021, 571 adults with intellectual disabilities were interviewed. Participants most commonly used the Internet for being with family and friends, social media or doing online activities with other people. People who lived with family were the most likely to use social media; people who lived with other people with intellectual disabilities were the least likely. People who self-reported as not lonely were more likely to use the Internet for online activities with others and play video games with others. Social connections were identified as the best thing about the Internet. Many participants chose not to identify a worst thing about Internet use, while others reported issues with technology, online harm and threats to well-being.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This research was jointly funded by UK Research and Innovation (MR/V028596/1) and the National Institute for Health Research (COV0196) and supported by the Department for Health and Social Care (National Institute for Health Research) as part of the UKRI-DHSC COVID-19 Rapid Response Rolling Call.
• Keywords: COVID-19, disability, intellectual disability, Internet, learning disability.
• Status: Early Online Publication
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Maguire, Ms Roseann and Jahoda, Professor Andrew and Gillooly, Dr Amanda
• Authors: Caton, S., Hatton, C., Gillooly, A., Oloidi, E., Clarke, L., Bradshaw, J., Flynn, S., Taggart, L., Mulhall, P., Jahoda, A., Maguire, R., Marriott, A., Todd, S., Abbott, D., Beyer, S., Gore, N., Heslop, P., Scior, K., and Hastings, R. P.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Mental Health and Wellbeing
• Journal Name: New Media and Society
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• ISSN: 1461-4448
• ISSN (Online): 1461-7315
• Published Online: 06 May 2022
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2022 The Authors
• First Published: First published in New Media and Society 2022
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License