Krause, Amanda (2026) Optimization of Radio-Based Strategies for Promoting Well-Being in Older Adults. In: [Presented at the World Congress on Aging and Neurosciences]. From: World Congress on Aging and Neurosciences, 16-17 September 2026, Online.

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Abstract

Given the radio is accessible and broadcasts a wide variety of content, it is well placed to contribute to the promotion of well-being. However, compared to the arts and music listening in particular, less is known specifically about how engaging with radio facilitates the well-being of older adults. Recent studies have focused on older adults’ everyday radio engagement and associated explicit and implicit well-being benefits. Through consideration of the radio’s purpose (which both radio personnel and listeners state as being multi-faceted, including to stay informed, for entertainment, and for social purposes), the implicit and explicit ways in which radio facilitates well-being in older age are highlighted. Importantly, it is the perceived relationships individual presenters, programs, and stations built and sustained over time through repeated engagement that underpin radio’s ability to support older adult well-being. Radio’s capacity to create a sense of company and companionship suggests that it can function as a social surrogate, or substitute for social connection when direct social interaction is not possible. Additionally, while the radio is not considered a “new” technology, its versatility in technological access supports its continued use – especially amongst older adults and those living in residential aged care. Based on how radio engagement can support individual and community well-being, the radio may function as a cultural immunogen to promote quality of older life. These findings have implications for broadcasting practices as well as future work concerning how the radio might be used as a widely accessible tool for promoting quality of older life.

Item ID:	94040
Item Type:	Conference Item (Abstract / Summary)
Keywords:	music psychology, psychology of music, social and applied psychology, radio, radio listening, music listening, everyday listening, social surrogate, social surrogacy, older adult well-being, older age, quality of life, quality of later life, radio presenters, community, companionship, communion, community radio, well-being, health, health promotion
Date Deposited:	16 Sep 2026 23:44
FoR Codes:	36 CREATIVE ARTS AND WRITING > 3603 Music > 360301 Music cognition @ 40% 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5203 Clinical and health psychology > 520304 Health psychology @ 30% 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5205 Social and personality psychology > 520505 Social psychology @ 30%
SEO Codes:	20 HEALTH > 2005 Specific population health (excl. Indigenous health) > 200502 Health related to ageing @ 30% 28 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 2801 Expanding knowledge > 280121 Expanding knowledge in psychology @ 40% 13 CULTURE AND SOCIETY > 1302 Communication > 130204 The media @ 30%
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