The Use of Social Media in Enacting Emotional Care to Elderly People During the Covid-19 Pandemic : Empirical Evidence from Rwanda
Abstract
- Abstract
- en The paper examines the relevance of social media use by older people in their emotional care relationships with their kin living apart from them. Older people’s use of social media is still less visible in Rwanda and overlooked by researchers. The folk narrative in Rwanda considers social media usage a youth phenomenon. This paper goes beyond this consideration and shows how social media plays a significant role in care provision during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. The research uses in-depth interviews of older people and their children to highlight social media’s usefulness in facilitating daily interactions. Since children could not travel to the village to visit their parents, social media allowed them to exchange with their older parents frequently calls and chats, which contained comforting words necessary for reducing the emotional stress created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Even if older people face the challenge of access to smartphones and digital literacy, using social media in enacting emotional care for older people proves to be indispensable in creating solid bonds, belongingness, and attachment to them.
- fr Cet article examine l'importance de l'utilisation des médias sociaux par les personnes âgées dans leurs relations affectives avec leurs proches vivant à l'écart. L'utilisation des médias sociaux par les personnes âgées est encore moins visible au Rwanda et négligée par les chercheurs. Le récit populaire au Rwanda considère l'utilisation des médias sociaux comme un phénomène de jeunesse. Cet article va au delà de cette considération et montre comment les médias sociaux jouent un rôle important dans la fourniture de soins pendant des crises comme la pandémie de COVID 19. La recherche s'appuie sur des entretiens approfondis avec des personnes âgées et leurs enfants pour mettre en évidence l'utilité des médias sociaux dans la facilitation des interactions quotidiennes. Comme les enfants ne pouvaient pas se rendre au village pour rendre visite à leurs parents, les médias sociaux leur ont permis d'échanger fréquemment des appels et des discussions avec leurs parents âgés, qui contenaient des mots réconfortants nécessaires pour réduire le stress émotionnel créé par la pandémie de COVID 19. Même si les personnes âgées sont confrontées au défi de l'accès aux smartphones et de la culture numérique, l'utilisation des médias sociaux dans le cadre de la prise en charge émotionnelle des personnes âgées s'avère indispensable pour créer des liens solides, un sentiment d'appartenance et un attachement à leur égard.
Subjects
People & roles
- Authors
- Irambeshya, Albert
- Place of publication
- Bayreuth
Origins & context
- Title
- The Use of Social Media in Enacting Emotional Care to Elderly People During the Covid-19 Pandemic : Empirical Evidence from Rwanda
- Publication type
- Working paper
- Language
- English
- Publisher
- Institute of African Studies
- Series
-
BIGSASworks!
Value Annotations
Value Annotations
- volume
- 12
- Date
- 2023
- Number in series
- 41
- pages
- VIII, 27
- Number of pages
- 27
Identifiers & sources
Full text
- Full text
- 41 University of Bayreuth African Studies WORKING PAPERS The Use of Social Media in Enacting Emotional Care to Elderly People During the Covid-19 Pandemic: Empirical Evidence from Rwanda Albert Irambeshya, 2023 works! 12 University of Bayreuth African Studies Working Papers (XLI) 41 University of Bayreuth African Studies WORKING PAPERS The Use of Social Media in Enacting Emotional Care to Elderly People During the Covid- 19 Pandemic: Empirical Evidence from Rwanda CC-BY 4.0 Albert Irambeshya, 2023 The use of Social Media in Enacting Emotional Care to Ederly People ii University of Bayreuth African Studies Working Papers (XLI) Institute of African Studies (IAS) The University of Bayreuth African Studies Working Papers are published by the Institute of African Studies (IAS) in Bayreuth, Germany. The IAS promotes African Studies at the University of Bayreuth by supporting scholars from a wide range of academic disciplines from almost all faculties. It facilitates cooperation between researchers and institutions engaged in Africa-related projects, as well as teaching, both on campus and around the world. The IAS consists of three central bodies: the Iwalewahaus, the Africa Multiple Cluster of Excellence, and the Africa Research Center (Forschungszentrum Afrika), which is currently under construction. The Working Papers give scholars the space to present empirical studies, theoretical reflections, and report preliminary findings, ongoing projects, and current research. The Working Papers usually reflect works-in-progress and invite discussion and feedback. Submitted papers are subject to internal review at the University of Bayreuth. Contributions may be submitted to the editor-in-chief: Dr. Jane Ayeko-Kümmeth (IAS@uni-bayreuth.de) The University of Bayreuth African Studies Working Papers feature on the EPub document server at the university library: 2005 -… Read the full text about 12,760 words
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