Is foreign-language-based bilingualism linked to digital literacy among older adults?

Acquiring digital literacy (DL) is critical for different age groups including older adults. Although DL has received scholarly attention in disciplines such as gerontology and adult education, insight from applied linguistics research has seldom (if at all) been integrated into systematic research concerning the role of language-related variables in shaping DL despite their relevance to DL. Informed by major theoretical models in applied linguistics, bilingualism is hypothesised to lead to DL. This hypothesis was investigated through surveying a large sample of older adults (N = 1,470). The present survey-based study represents the first systematic attempt to link bilingualism with DL among an under-investigated group (viz. seniors). This multidisciplinary study broadens the research scope along the line of inquiry concerning DL in disciplines other than applied linguistics (e.g. gerontology and adult education). Descriptive statistics showed that the sample achieved a relatively high level of DL. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that the independent variables affected DL to varying degrees; for example, foreign-language (FL)-based bilingualism (operationalised as English use frequency) was identified as a very important predictor for DL. Implications (e.g. the need for various stakeholder groups to create more opportunities for older adults to use the target FL) were also provided.