The digital gap is a threat to the participation of senior citizens in society, as a large proportion of seniors are not involved in Internet based activities (IBAs). To be able to overcome this disadvantage for seniors, there is a need to both learn more about the conditions that make seniors start performing IBAs and to be able to provide them with the most beneficial professional interventions. The aim of this study was to explore and describe seniors' experiences with IBAs. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 10 seniors (aged: 66-82 years) with a variety of experiences with IBAs, and the interviews were analyzed with the constant comparative method. The results reveal three categories that describe the experiences of the established performers, the new performers of IBAs in the process of starting out, and the nonperformers. The variations in performance were influenced by the meaning that the performance of IBAs had for the seniors. In addition, the seniors were affected by several other conditionssuch as the support available in their environment, including access to knowledgeas this could encourage them to develop their performance. Basic aspects, such as having access to a computer and to the Internet had been arranged for the performers of IBAs. The different ways of performing IBAs, revealed in the three categories, influenced how the seniors viewed their opportunities to participate in society. The conclusion highlights the finding that professionals should consider a multitude of conditions when introducing seniors to the performance of meaningful IBAs.

Objective: To explore how client-centred occupational therapy intervention processes for participation in meaningful Social Internet-Based Activities (SIBAs) can be designed, and to explore the influences of participation in SIBAs on seniors' social activities and social contacts. Method: A qualitative, descriptive, multiple-case study was conducted, and an intervention was provided to the five participants, who were aged 65-85. Data were collected through assessment tools, field notes, and interviews. Results: The participants' needs and challenges related to SIBAs varied during the intervention processes. Individual-adapted support was provided for the seniors (by the occupational therapist) to managing the introduction to different SIBAs, their appearance on the internet, and the lack of privacy. The association between the seniors' participation in SIBAs and their satisfaction with these activities, as well as their social contacts, requires further exploration. Conclusions: Client-centred occupational therapy interventions can support seniors' participation in SIBAs and their self-reliance when performing these activities.

Introduction: Restraints and changes in social activities might contribute to loneliness and health decline for older adults. To reduce loneliness and support activities, social internet-based interventions are indicated to be effective. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a social internet-based intervention for older adults who are vulnerable to loneliness.

Method: An explorative, randomised, crossover study with an AB/BA sequence was completed. The intervention was conducted over a period of three months. Thirty participants were included (24 women and six men, 61-89 years old) and allocated to two groups. Data were collected at three time points. The primary outcome was the UCLA loneliness scale, and the secondary outcomes were satisfaction with social contacts and social interaction skills. Statistical analyses were conducted with the paired t-test, Wilcoxon's signed-rank test and repeated-measures analysis of variance.

Results: Loneliness was significantly decreased in both groups post intervention, and satisfaction with social contacts online significantly increased in one group. Significant treatment effects were detected for all outcomes.

Conclusion: The results of the social internet-based intervention programme are promising, but further evaluations are needed

Objective: To explore seniors’ experiences of the intervention process after participating in a social internet-based occupational therapy intervention.

Method: A qualitative interview study was conducted. Twelve women and 3 men (66–87 years old), from the completed intervention study participated. The study was placed in northern Sweden. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews. The interviews were analyzed using the constant comparative method, and two categories with subcategories were generated in the analysis.

Results: The seniors experienced a need to participate in social internet-based activities (SIBAs) due to their decline in social activities and the ever-increasing digitalization of society. In the intervention process, the seniors’ experiences reflected two divergent directions. The first consisted of seniors who had experiences of being hampered in participating in the SIBAs in the intervention process. They did not completely reach their intervention goals, but they did describe increased ability to use SIBAs and increased self-reliance. The other direction of the process reflected experiences of reaching their goals in the intervention, and they developed habitual participation in SIBAs as well as increased participation in social activities outside the Internet.

Conclusion: The social internet-based intervention can support seniors to overcome the obstacles that prevent them from participating in SIBAs. By participating in SIBAs, the seniors might enrich their social activities and social contacts both on the Internet and outside, if the intervention is individually targeted to meet their needs.