A new global study of over 35,000 people has revealed that access to information technology has a ‘statistically significant, positive impact on life satisfaction’. Women in particular and those on lower incomes or with fewer educational qualifications are the ones that benefit most from access to and use of IT. The study also suggests that women in developing nations get even more from IT than those in the developed world.
Donna Dawson, psychologist, examined the report and summarised, “anything that increases the sense of personal control in our lives, such as IT, will reduce anxiety and stress and keep us mentally ‘well’. This is especially true for women, who are usually at the hub of social communications in their families, society and work – IT activities such as networking and gathering information can help women to successfully juggle and manage all the different roles that fill their lives.”
Kerry Allsop, HR administrator said “IT helps me keep on top of things. I work full time and am studying as well so the internet in particular lets me balance all my responsibilities. I mainly keep in touch with friends online, but I also research websites and online journals for my essays – which is essential. I don’t have to spend time travelling to a library so I can make the most of my study time and fit it in when it’s convenient for me.”
Called ‘The Information Dividend: Can IT make you happier?’ the report, commissioned by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, is based on an analysis of the World Values Survey. The findings suggest there may well be an ‘information dividend’ – a personal and social benefit which comes from access to information and IT.
Michael Willmott, social scientist at Trajectory Partnership who conducted the research said, “Put simply, people with IT access are more satisfied with life even when taking account of income.
Our analysis suggests that IT has an enabling and empowering role in people’s lives by increasing their sense of freedom and control, which has a positive impact on well-being or happiness.”
Elizabeth Sparrow, President, BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT said, “The ‘Information Society’, as we see it, should be a place where information technology is used to improve life satisfaction and support our individual and collective goals, not to erode or undermine them. The IT profession should be here to serve that purpose.”
The interest in ‘well being’ or life satisfaction has become a hot topic in recent years as academics, policy makers and politicians have sought ways to define happiness and redefine the role of Government in addressing the fact that ‘happiness’ appears to flat-line once a society reaches a certain economic level.
The implications for this study, therefore, could be far-reaching and intriguing:
* IT as a means to better social policy outcomes
* Re-emphasises the need for broadband roll-out to close the digital divide
* A clearer idea of where digital inclusion/exclusion is most beneficial/harmful
“The relationship between IT and happiness has not been well researched which is why the Institute commissioned this study. If we can enhance the understanding of the relationships in a way that leads to new and improved thinking, strategies or solutions then we will have helped a little” concluded Elizabeth Sparrow.
Key findings from the report are available to view at http://www.bcs.org/infodividend
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