H. H. Nguyen. Social Adaptation of the Elderly to Digital Transformation of Society: The Sociological Research in Hanoi Capital and Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam)

UDК 303.425-053.8(597)

doi: 10.15507/2413-1407.123.031.202302.375-392

Abstract

Introduction. The population aging in Hanoi Capital and Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) coincides with the development of the 4th Industrial Revolution and digital transformation. The article aims to analyze the current state of social adaptation of elderly people in Vietnam to the digital transformation of society through their attitudes and levels of accessing and using to certain types of digital technologies in the economic, political, social and cultural field.

Materials and Methods. The sociological survey of 984 elderly people in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City was conducted from May to September 2022. SPSS version 25.0 was used for statistical analysis and quantitative testing. The national census reports and population aging data were also analyzed.

Results. Elderly people are poorly aware of the function and usefulness of some digital technologies, although this technologies are quite popular, necessary, and even created only for them. Therefore, they do not have good access to them. The main reasons are ignorance, the absence of help and guidance. However, elderly people believe that digital technologies will help them live happier and more convenient.

Discussion and Conclusion. Equipping the younger generation with digital knowledge and skills is a necessary preparation for the goal of “active aging” in digital era. The government needs more relevant projects to improve the social adaptation of elderly people; pay attention to the best solution to the digital divide for elderly people being in rural area, poor group, low education and living alone. The results of this article provide some important implications for state agencies, elderly associations, family institutions and the elderly. This results will supply ideas to build necessary solutions and policies for the elderly in the digital era.

Keywords: social adaptation, elderly people, digital transformation of society, population aging, digital technologies, the 4th Industrial Revolution

Conflict of interests. The author declares that there is no conflict of interest.

For citation: Nguyen H.H. Social Adaptation of the Elderly to Digital Transformation of Society: The Sociological Research in Hanoi Capital and Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam). Russian Journal of Regional Studies. 2023;31(2):375–392. https://doi.org/10.15507/2413-1407.123.031.202302.375-392

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Submitted 26.12.2022; revised 14.02.2023; accepted 27.02.2023.

About the author:

Hoang H. Nguyen, Lecturer at Academy Politics of Region II, Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics (Ho Chi Minh 700000, Vietnam); Postgraduate student of the Department of Sociology, Ethnography and Sociometry, Russian State Social University (4 bld. 1, Wilhelm Peak St., Moscow 129226, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2296-214X, hoangnh@hcma2.edu.vn

The author has read and approved the final version of the manuscript.