For Adults Over 50, Spending Time Online Could Be The Secret To Happier And Healthier Golden Years
The internet is not just for memes and funny cat videos. For adults over 50, spending time online could be the secret to happier and healthier golden years.
Among adults aged 50 or older, internet use has been linked to a reduction in depressive symptoms and better mental health, according to researchers from the City University of Hong Kong and the University of Hong Kong.
Mental health problems among middle-aged and older adults have become a major public health concern worldwide.
For example, in 2019, around 14 percent of people aged 55 and older experienced mental health disorders like depression.
In a new study, the researchers examined data from six surveys across 23 high and middle-income countries, including the United States, England, Israel, Brazil, Mexico, and China. The data from these surveys was collected between 2008 and 2021.
They looked at a total of 87,559 participants and found that internet use led to better self-reported health and fewer depressive symptoms. Those with memory-related illnesses or psychological disorders were excluded from the study.
The higher the frequency of internet use, the better mental health outcomes were. More specifically, the participants who used the internet daily or weekly claimed to have fewer symptoms of depression than those who did not use the internet at all.
For the most part, the researchers found positive associations between internet use and depressive symptoms. However, negative associations were observed in participants who were 65 years of age or older.
They were also unmarried, had higher education, lower wealth, less social contact, were currently employed, physically inactive, drank less than once a week, and had disabilities in daily living activities or chronic conditions.
rawpixel.com – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only, not the actual person
The benefits of internet use seemed to vary across countries and subpopulations. They were influenced by genetic, behavioral, and sociodemographic factors. There were also inconsistent results in some countries like England.
The study also acknowledged potential downsides to internet use, such as cyberbullying, misinformation, and excessive screen time that interferes with offline activities, highlighting the need for focused and intentional internet usage strategies.
The findings of the study are important, especially as internet use is becoming increasingly adopted by global middle-aged and older populations.
The internet provides access to health information, entertainment, and social connections, all of which positively impact mental health.
The findings can be used to inform effective public health protocols and practices to improve the mental health of middle-aged and older adults around the world.
Although regular internet usage was linked to enhanced mental health benefits, there are still potential risks that need to be studied further.
Overall, it was determined that promoting internet use could help boost mental health in adults aged 50 or older, particularly in regions with limited access to mental health resources.
The study was published in the journal Nature Human Behavior.
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