Increasingly, computer and Internet usage play a vital role in connecting individuals to the larger society. Many factors may influence computer ownership and frequency of Internet usage by retired older adults. This thesis applies two theoretical frameworks, Cumulative Inequality theory and Intergenerational Solidarity theory, to explore major factors that may influence retired older adults' computer ownership and their frequency of Internet usage. Special attention will be paid to issues of social inequality: including retirement status (respondent and spouse), availability of an employer-paid pension (respondent and spouse), accumulated wealth, income, educational attainment, and employer-paid health insurance (respondent and spouse). In addition, this thesis will explore issues of intergenerational solidarity, specifically, number of children and number of children living in the household in relation to computer ownership and Internet usage, in particular. This study uses the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study (WLS) data that were collected through phone surveys that were conducted in 2004.

Thesis advisor: Sara M. Moorman / This dissertation explores the complex relationship between social capital and depressive symptoms across the life course, focusing particularly on the increasing prevalence of depression from mid-to-late life. Using a life course perspective, this research investigates how social determinants, such as social capital, shape the emergence, increase, and decrease of depressive symptoms as individuals age. Drawing from both the tangible and psychological dimensions of social capital, this dissertation examines how changes in social connections and networks influence depressive symptom outcomes, including the biosocial consequences of depression on cognitive function in later life. The research is divided into three analytical papers. The first paper analyzes longitudinal data to assess the association between social capital and depressive symptoms, distinguishing between within- and between-person effects. The second paper explores how depressive symptom subtypes evolve from midlife to later life, identifying distinct subtypes and examining the stability and transitions between them over time. The third paper investigates the relationship between depressive symptom subtypes, social capital, and cognitive function, exploring how depressive symptom subtypes may mediate this association. Findings across these studies emphasize the pivotal role of social capital in shaping depression outcomes, highlighting how social isolation and disconnection may exacerbate depressive symptoms in later life. This dissertation contributes to the sociology of mental health and aging by offering new insights into the social mechanisms underlying depression and its long-term impacts on cognitive function. Through this work, policymakers and health professionals may gain a deeper understanding of how targeted interventions aimed at enhancing social capital could mitigate the global burden of depression in aging populations. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2024. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Sociology.