#AdvancedStyle: How Sharing Fashion on Social Media Creates an Opportunity for Positive Social Engagement for Aging Adults

Room 2904

As they age, older adults often struggle with social isolation (Grenade & Boldy, 2008). Engagement in social media has been proven to reduce the feelings of loneliness and provide its users a way to connect with other people (Leist, 2013). Social network involvement provides new opportunities for this aging population to be socially interactive even if they are restricted in their mobility. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand how aging fashionistas (60 and over) use their Instagram accounts to socially engage with others. The researchers evaluated the Instagram accounts of 15 older women that actively post and interact with others about their apparel choices. The posts and comments were coded for recurring themes that included support, encouragement, and validation. These women were found to hold conversations not only regarding their fashion choices, but also current events. The interactions between content creators and commenters were overwhelmingly positive and created a unique community of support for individuals within this same age group. This research will provide insights of how social networks can be utilized to help older groups reduce the effects of social isolation and forge connections with like-minded individuals. An understanding of how social media participation can positively impact the lives of aging adults can provide new options for those working with senior communities to increase socialization.