Frequency and correlates of use of applications for monitoring and increasing health and well-being in middle-aged and older adults. Findings from the German Ageing Survey

Abstract Aim To clarify the frequency and correlates of using applications for monitoring and increase of health and well-being among middle-aged and older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany. Methods Data were used from the nationally representative German Ageing Survey (n = 3,174 individuals in the analytical sample; June/July 2020). The frequency of using applications for monitoring and increasing health and well-being (from daily to never) was used as main outcome measure. Results Among individuals with access to the internet, 76% never used applications for monitoring and increase of health and well-being, whereas about 13% were rare and 11% were frequent users of such applications. Multinomial regressions showed that the likelihood of being a rare user (compared to never users of such applications) was positively associated with being male [RRR: 0.74, 95% CI: 0.59–0.93], the frequency of walks [e.g., several times a week compared to never: RRR: 2.76, 95% CI: 1.15–6.59] and worse self-rated health [RRR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.11–1.59]. Furthermore, the likelihood of being a frequent user (compared to never users) was positively associated with younger age [RRR: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.94–0.98] and the frequency of walks [daily compared to never: RRR: 2.61, 95% CI: 1.07–6.35]. Conclusions Applications for monitoring and increasing health and well-being are used by about one out of four middle-aged and older individuals with access to the internet in Germany during the COVID-19 pandemic. In international comparison, the proportion of users is rather low. Determining the factors associated with such use may help to address non-users.