Table 3

Associations between internet use, social engagement and health literacy decline, the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, 2004–2011 (n=4368)

Health literacy decline
ActivitiesYes (n=814; 19%)No (n=3554; 81%)Model 1*95% CIModel 2†95% CIModel 3‡95% CI
Internet use
 Never435 (25%)1320 (75%)1.001.001.00
 Intermittent218 (18%)1016 (82%)0.85(0.69 to 1.03)0.86(0.70 to 1.05)0.92(0.75 to 1.13)
 Consistent161 (12%)1218 (88%)0.60(0.49 to 0.76)0.68(0.54 to 0.87)0.77(0.60 to 0.99)
Civic activities
 None263 (23%)876 (77%)1.001.001.00
 Intermittent317 (19%)1373 (81%)0.83(0.69 to 1.01)0.87(0.71 to 1.05)0.85(0.70 to 1.04)
 Consistent234 (15%)1305 (85%)0.72(0.58 to 0.89)0.82(0.65 to 1.02)0.84(0.67 to 1.06)
Leisure activities
 None246 (21%)905 (79%)1.001.001.00
 Intermittent360 (20%)1484 (80%)1.05(0.87 to 1.27)1.14(0.94 to 1.39)1.18(0.97 to 1.44)
 Consistent208 (15%)1165 (85%)0.85(0.68 to 1.06)1.05(0.83 to 1.33)1.12(0.88 to 1.42)
Cultural activities
 None227 (26%)637 (74%)1.001.001.00
 Intermittent368 (21%)1421 (79%)0.88(0.72 to 1.07)0.90(0.73 to 1.10)0.92(0.75 to 1.14)
 Consistent219 (13%)1496 (87%)0.60(0.47 to 0.75)0.67(0.53 to 0.87)0.73(0.56 to 0.93)
  • *Adjusted for age, sex, ethnicity, educational attainment, net non-pension wealth, having a limiting long-standing illness, experiencing an IADL limitation.

  • †Model 1+internet use and engagement in each of the civic, leisure and cultural activities.

  • ‡Model 2+baseline executive function, baseline memory, executive function decline and memory decline.

  • IADL, instrumental activity of daily living.