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Age Differences in Home Computer Availability and Use

¹ Department of Sociology and Center for the Study of Aging, University of Vermont, Burlington.
² University Honors College
³ Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis.

Address correspondence to Dr. Stephen J. Cutler, Department of Sociology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405. E-mail: Stephen.Cutler{at}uvm.edu

Objectives.The purpose of this study was to determine whether age differences in home computer availability and use are due to variations in compositional characteristics (e.g., income or disabilities) of age cohorts.

Methods.Data are drawn from the September 2001 Current Population Survey and its supplement on computer and Internet use (). Patterns of age differences in home computer use are examined using Multiple Classification Analysis with controls for several measures of compositional variability (employment status, marital status, Hispanic origin and race, gender, family income, living arrangements, education, and number of disabilities).

Results.Even though home computer availability declines steadily with age, a portion of this zero-order relationship is due to composition effects, with their greatest impact occurring at the oldest ages. Among persons living in households where a computer is available, use also declines with age, but these age differences in computer use are less due to compositional differences.

Discussion.The lower rates of home computer availability and use exhibited by older persons may be accounted for to some extent by compositional characteristics negatively associated with availability and, to a lesser extent, use of computers, although unmeasured attitudes, experience, and support undoubtedly play a role.

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