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

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Title: Is foreign-language-based bilingualism linked to digital literacy among older adults?
Authors: Wei, Rining1 (AUTHOR), Reynolds, Barry Lee2,3 (AUTHOR), Li, Yuansheng1 (AUTHOR), Chen, Hongzhong1 (AUTHOR), Wang, Jing4 (AUTHOR) yitunvqin@163.com
Source: International Journal of Bilingual Education & Bilingualism. Nov2025, Vol. 28 Issue 10, p1169-1192. 24p.
Subject Terms: *Digital literacy, *Bilingualism, *Language ability, *Gerontology, *Language & languages, *Adult education, *Applied linguistics, Older people
Abstract: 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of International Journal of Bilingual Education & Bilingualism is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
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  Data: Is foreign-language-based bilingualism linked to digital literacy among older adults?
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wei%2C+Rining%22">Wei, Rining</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Reynolds%2C+Barry+Lee%22">Reynolds, Barry Lee</searchLink><relatesTo>2,3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Li%2C+Yuansheng%22">Li, Yuansheng</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Chen%2C+Hongzhong%22">Chen, Hongzhong</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wang%2C+Jing%22">Wang, Jing</searchLink><relatesTo>4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> yitunvqin@163.com</i>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22International+Journal+of+Bilingual+Education+%26+Bilingualism%22">International Journal of Bilingual Education & Bilingualism</searchLink>. Nov2025, Vol. 28 Issue 10, p1169-1192. 24p.
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Digital+literacy%22">Digital literacy</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Bilingualism%22">Bilingualism</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+ability%22">Language ability</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Gerontology%22">Gerontology</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+%26+languages%22">Language & languages</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Adult+education%22">Adult education</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Applied+linguistics%22">Applied linguistics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Older+people%22">Older people</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of International Journal of Bilingual Education & Bilingualism is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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        Value: 10.1080/13670050.2025.2524014
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        Text: English
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        Type: general
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      – SubjectFull: Language ability
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      – SubjectFull: Adult education
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      – SubjectFull: Applied linguistics
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      – SubjectFull: Older people
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      – TitleFull: Is foreign-language-based bilingualism linked to digital literacy among older adults?
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              Text: Nov2025
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