DR. HANNAH R. MARSTON

Summary

A versatile and creative researcher with an international background, who has multidisciplinary experience, with a track record of publications within health and well-being, gerontology, digital technologies, and video games, who is organized, a planner, and a listener with additional expertise in writing, presentations, leadership, and collaboration.

Hannah enjoys collaborating with colleagues on topics focusing on ICT use/behaviour to enhance the lives of people and welcomes new collaborations.

You will be able to find a great deal of information throughout this website, in addition to one of Hannah’s passions which is photography. She has uploaded a variety of photographs and can be found through the Gallery.

Latest News

Published Books:

Available to order now – Society and technology: Promoting well-being in a digital age. 

Marston, H. R. (Ed.). (2025). Society and technology: Promoting well-being in a digital age. Cognella.

This edited book will be published in late June and consists of 12 chapters, including contributions from scholars in the disciplines of sociology, nursing, user centred design, age-friendly cities & communities, engineering, gerontology, social work, computer science, palliative care, loneliness/social isolation, social policy and practice. 

 

 

Transgenerational Technology and Interactions for the 21st Century: Perspectives and Narratives

Order Here

Listen to the PODCAST

Overview: Transgenerational Technology and Interactions for the 21^st Century explores how we as humans navigate the 21^st Century, interacting with technologies, including those that are intended to support and enhance our experiences across the lifespan. This manifesto, composed with humanity at the front and centre, pinpoints succinctly the critical considerations of people, technology and inequalities intersecting across our 21^st century ecosystems.

With a special focus on bridging interdisciplinary research, creative and co-production approaches, the authors explore and present cutting edge discourse, building on previous research to form contemporary and inform future awareness and strategies to societal experiences. The authors argue that it is time to re-evaluate how we move forward in a multi-faceted society, with the ever growing reliance of technology but yet many voices are not heard, left behind or not even considered.  

This creative and collaborative response is suited to researchers, academics, designers, industry and stakeholder professionals who have an interest the fields of technology, design, sociology and innovation.

Citation:

Marston, H.R., Shore, L., Stoops, L., & Turner, R. (2022). Transgenerational Technology and Interactions for the 21st Century: Perspectives and Narratives. Emerald. ISBN 9781839826399

Endorsement:

“From technology usage during the pandemic to digital poverty and the digital divide, this book focuses on the past, present and future of technology – using a unique transgenerational framework to consider the unique experiences, interactions and expectations of the Silent Generation, Baby Boomers, Generation X, and the Millennials. Technology can enrich the lives of older people, and this reflection on how digital engagement might facilitate ageing-in-place, and age-friendly cities and communities, is particularly salient in our post-pandemic world.  The book is a timely reminder that we must prioritise digital inclusion across all generations and sectors, ensuring that all citizens have digital skills, knowledge, and confidence – this is the essence of the book’s closing manifesto, which is an urgent call for thoughtful engagement with technology research, practice, and policy.” Professor Evonne Miller – Queensland University of Technology, Australia

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#COVID-19 Studies, & Writings

#COVID19 is a worldwide pandemic and crises for all governments and citizens. Technology will and is playing an important role within our respective communities to maintain work, communication, sharing information and more importantly reduce isolation and loneliness for all!

#COVID-19 Study 1

COVID-19: TECHNOLOGY, SOCIAL CONNECTIONS, LONELINESS & LEISURE ACTIVITIES
This study led by Dr Hannah R. Marston and Dr Sarah Earle, and will use an online survey, deployed across mailing lists, and social media platforms to reach as many people as possible. The online survey comprising of 65 questions relating to technology use, community engagement, health and wellbeing, loneliness and leisure activities.

Since April 2020, this study has been scaled up and the online survey has been deployed across Spain, France, Romania, Germany, Austria, Turkey, Malta, Singapore, India, Portugal, and Brazil. For more information click here.

• Ethics: HREC/3551/MARSTON

Funding: this project is not externally funded.

Publications:

1. Marston, H.R., Prabhu, V., & Earle, S. (2025). Understanding eHealth, loneliness and well-being experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic: A UK insight. Cogent Gerontology, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/28324897.2025.2501490
2. Großschädl, F., Marston, H. R., Ivan, L., Prabhu, V., & Earle, S. (2025). Age as an important predictor for digital health literacy: Cross-sectional evidence of internet users from an international multisite study in North America and EU countries. Educational Gerontology, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1080/03601277.2025.2505568
3. Ivan, L., Marston, H.R., Girishan Prabhu, V., Großschädl, F., Alexandra Silva, P., Buttigieg, S.C., Öztürk Çalıkoğlu, H., Bilir Koca, B., Arslan, H., Kanozia, R., Browning., M.H.E.M., Freeman, S., Earle, S. (2025). Successful Aging across Middle vs High-Income Countries: An Analysis of the Role of eHealth Literacy Associated with Loneliness and Wellbeing, The Gerontologist, 65, gnae170. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnae170.
4. Marston, H. R., Girishan Prabhu, V., & Ivan, L. (2025). Understanding Technology Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic Through the Lens of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities: An International, Multi-Centre Study. COVID, 5(1), 7. https://doi.org/10.3390/covid5010007
5. Marston, H.R., Ko, P-C., Prabhu, V.G., Freeman, S., Ross, C., Sharaievska, I., Browning, MHEM., Earle, S., Ivan, L., Kanozia, R., Çalıkoğlu, H.Ö., Arslan, H., Bilir-Koca, B., Silva, P.A., Buttigieg, S.C., Großschädl, F., & Schüttengruber, G. (2023). Digital Practices by Citizens During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings From an International Multisite Study. JMIR Ment Health 2023;10:e41304. doi: 10.2196/41304
6. Chidiac, M., Ross, C., Marston, H.R., & Freeman, S. (2022). Age and Gender Perspectives on Social Media and Technology Practices During the COVID-19 Pandemic. IJERP; 19(21), 13969; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192113969
7. Marston, H.R., Ivan, L., Fernández-Ardèvol, M., Rosales Climent, A., Gómez-León, M., Blanche, D., Earle, S., Ko, P.C., Colas, S., Bilir, B., Öztürk Çalıkoğl., Arslan, H., Kanozia, R., Kriebernegg, U.,  Großschädl, F., Reer, F., Quandt, T., Buttigieg, S.C., Alexandra Silva, P., Gallistl, V., & Rohner, R. (2020). COVID-19: Technology, Social Connections, Loneliness & Leisure Activities: An International Study Protocol. Front. Sociol. doi:10.3389/fsoc.2020.574811
8. Marston, H.R., et al., (2020) – Research Evidence#1 LBCO224 – Life beyond COVID. Submitted 30th August, published 18^th September 2020, COVID-19 Committee. Written evidence (page 11). All evidence is available here.

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#COVID-19 Study 2

#COVID-19: Dating Apps, Social Connections, Loneliness & Mental Health

This study is led by Dr Hannah R. Marston, with Co-I’s Dr Sarah Earle (OU), Dr D.J. Morgan, (Swansea University), and Dr Robin Hadley.

The purpose of this study is to explore and understand how dating apps have been used by citizens during the pandemic to connect with others on a social, emotional and sexual level, to reduce the feeling of loneliness and social isolation.

1. Marston, H.R., Earle, S., Morgan, D.J., & Hadley, R.A. (2025). Ethical Concerns and Risks Surrounding Dating Apps: Findings from a UK Covid-19 Study. Chapter 2 In: H.R. Marston (Ed.). Society and Technology: Promoting Well-Being in a Digital Age? Cognella, San Diego, USA. ISBN: 979-8-8233-6039-5
2. Marston, H.R., Morgan, D.J., Earle, S., & Hadley, R.A. (2023). Shiver Me Tinders and Ring a Ding for a Fling—Sex Tech Use during COVID-19: Findings from a UK Study. Healthcare; 11(6), 897; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11060897.
3. Marston, H.R., Morgan, D.J., Earle, S., Hadley, R. (2021). Presentation at the British Society of Gerontology.

Project website here

Latest Publications

• Pavlovski, D., Stanojkovska, D., Dikken, J., van Hoof, J., & Marston, H.R. (2025). Ageing in deprivation: assessing material and social challenges among older adults in Skopje, North Macedonia. Cogent Gerontology, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/28324897.2025.2506573.
• Großschädl, F., Marston, H. R., Ivan, L., Prabhu, V., & Earle, S. (2025). Age as an important predictor for digital health literacy: Cross-sectional evidence of internet users from an international multisite study in North America and EU countries. Educational Gerontology, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1080/03601277.2025.2505568
• Marston, H.R., Prabhu, V., & Earle, S. (2025). Understanding eHealth, loneliness and well-being experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic: A UK insight. Cogent Gerontology, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/28324897.2025.2501490
• van Hoof, J., & Marston, H.R. (2025). The need for measurable evidence-based design recommendations for age-friendly cities and communities. Journal of Urban Design, 30(2), 170–174. https://doi.org/10.1080/13574809.2024.2438485
• Ivan, L., Marston, H.R., Girishan Prabhu, V., Großschädl, F., Alexandra Silva, P., Buttigieg, S.C., Öztürk Çalıkoğlu, H., Bilir Koca, B., Arslan, H., Kanozia, R., Browning., M.H.E.M., Freeman, S., Earle, S. (2025). Successful Aging across Middle vs High-Income Countries: An Analysis of the Role of eHealth Literacy Associated with Loneliness and Wellbeing, The Gerontologist, 65, gnae170, https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnae170.
• Marston, H.R., Girishan Prabhu, V., & Ivan, L. (2025). Understanding Technology Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic Through the Lens of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities: An International, Multi-Centre Study. COVID, 5(1), 7. https://doi.org/10.3390/covid5010007

Special Issues

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Past Special Issues:

Post-pandemic Digital Realities of Older Adults

Overview: The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the integration of technology into the lives and physical environments of people globally, while it has highlighted the disparities and digital inequities within our society. Technology use reinforces classical inequalities between rich and poor, majority and minorities, old and young. This in turn for some people has resulted in mixed experiences since 2020, they have been able to work from home, be more productive, while for many more, the sense of loneliness, and social isolation has increased greatly. Post-pandemic digital realities re-shape the discussion on the overcome ability and the belief in a successful adoption of the digital technologies later in life, also about the obstacles and challenges associated with the sustained use of technology, as for example the technostress and issues regarding privacy and surveillance. For older adults in particular the new digital spectrum raises issues regarding attitudes and technology awareness, self-trust and the mitigation between online and offline activities.

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“Feature Papers “Age-Friendly Cities & Communities: State of the Art and Future Perspectives””

For a full list and access to existing published papers in this special issue can be found here.

van Hoof, J., & Marston, H.R. (2021). Age-Friendly Cities and Communities: State of the Art and Future Perspectives. Editorial. IJERP; 18(4), 1644, https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18041644.

Marston, H.R., & van Hoof, J. (2021). Age-friendly cities and communities of the 21st Century. Ageing Issues Blog, 9th February 2021.

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The Aging and Technology Special Collection

Aging and Technology in the journal of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine.
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Previous Activities

PAX Online: Game and Interaction Design for Older Adults: That Means You (Someday) 14th September 2020

Moderator: Michelle Gaudette-Long,

Panel Members: Ahmad Azadvar, Robin Koman, Dr. Hannah Marston, Sheri Graner Ray, Dr. Bob De Schutter

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The iGAME (intergenerational: Gaming, Accessibility, Motivation, Engagement) Special Issue is now available.

This SI was led by Hannah and her co-guest editor Ahmad Azadar (User Research project manager at Massive Entertainment (Ubisoft), Sweden. This will be published early 2020. focused on contemporary research and future insights.

In May 2019, Hannah was invited to speak with game designers and developers at Massive Entertainment, Sweden.  Her presentation: ‘From Arcade to World Wide Web – how intergenerational gaming can help you pick up an extra life’ focused on contemporary research and future insights.

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During her graduate studies and beyond, Hannah has built up a wide national and international network, across a variety of disciplines and she actively publishes her work, in journals and book chapters. She recently led on the Edited book – Mobile e-Health with Drs. Freeman and Musselwhite. ​

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Hannah has led several projects, including the Technology In Later Life (TILL) project (2015-17), where she presented some preliminary findings under the theme ‘Using Technology in Social Care’ through the Knowledge Exchange Seminar Series (KESS), at the Northern Irish Assembly, Stormont, Belfast, UK. In 2017, Hannah undertook an exploratory project called Technology4YoungAdults (T4YA) funded by the H&W PRA to explore the impact and attitudes of ICT on young adults.

Previously, Hannah worked on the MonetizeMe (EPSRC) project based in the Centre for Research in Computing, at The Open University. Hannah has international expeirence having worked as a research scientist at the Institute of Movement and Sport Gerontology at the German Sport University Cologne, on the EU project – iStoppFalls. Between August 2010-11, Hannah held the position of post-doctoral fellow at the David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science, University of Waterloo.

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Dr Hannah R. Marston is the Research Fellow in the Health & Wellbeing Strategic Research Area (H&W SRA), based in the School of Health, Wellbeing & Social Care in the Faculty of Wellbeing, Education, & Language Studies (WELs) at the Open University, Milton Keynes.

Hannah leads the Digital Health & Wellbeing Special Interest Group, situated under the H&W SRA and since November 2016, Hannah has organised several several events, symposiums and the 2nd Digital Health & Wellbeing Conference (May 2018).

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