Regular internet use improves mental health in older adults, reducing depression and enhancing life satisfaction across multiple countries.
Older adults who engage with the internet regularly have been found to experience improved mental health outcomes, including reduced depressive symptoms, enhanced life satisfaction, and better self-reported health, as reported in research published in Nature Human Behaviour. The study, which spanned 23 countries, highlights the internet’s role as a vital tool for supporting mental well-being in individuals aged 50 and above, particularly in middle-income countries where mental health resources may be scarce.
The mental health of older adults has become an increasing global concern. According to the Global Burden of Disease study, approximately 14% of adults aged 55 and older suffer from mental health issues, including depression. As populations age rapidly and the lingering effects of challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic persist, researchers are looking for innovative and accessible solutions to meet the mental health needs of this demographic.
The internet, with its potential to mitigate social isolation, provide access to valuable health information, and offer entertainment, has emerged as a promising resource. However, most prior studies have focused on single countries, often overlooking cross-national and cultural differences, and have provided little insight into the impact of sociodemographic and genetic factors. The new research aimed to address these gaps.
“Mental health problems have become a public health concern worldwide in older populations,” stated Qingpeng Zhang, a professor at the University of Hong Kong and HKU Musketeers Foundation Institute of Data Science.
“Internet use has demonstrated potential as a cost-effective strategy for promoting mental health, influencing how individuals connect, learn, and access services, especially during the pandemic. However, research on the impact of internet use on the mental health of older individuals has produced mixed results. The aim of this investigation was to explore this association across countries to determine the role the internet might play in supporting mental well-being among older adults.”
Qingpeng Zhang,
Data from six major aging-focused cohort studies were analyzed: the Health and Retirement Study (United States), the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (England), the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (28 European countries and Israel), the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (China), the Mexican Health and Aging Study (Mexico), and the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Aging (Brazil). These studies collectively included over 87,000 participants aged 50 or older, with data collected over several years.
Participants were asked about their internet usage—whether regular use occurred and, in some cases, how frequently. Mental health outcomes, including depressive symptoms, life satisfaction, and self-reported health, were examined, while sociodemographic factors such as age, gender, income, education, and physical health were also considered. A subset of participants from the United States and England provided genetic data, enabling the exploration of how genetic risk factors for depression interacted with internet use.
Across 23 countries, older adults who engaged in regular internet use reported fewer depressive symptoms, higher life satisfaction, and improved self-rated health. For example, participants who used the internet demonstrated, on average, a 0.09-point reduction in depressive symptoms, a 0.07-point increase in life satisfaction, and a 0.15-point improvement in self-reported health when compared to non-users. While these effect sizes are modest, they represent meaningful differences at the population level, considering the large number of individuals who could experience mental health benefits.
“While previous studies have found the adverse impact of internet use on teenagers’ mental health, our research revealed a consistent positive association between internet use and mental health among older adults across diverse countries. This was unexpected, as it suggests that internet use may serve as a valuable tool for enhancing well-being later in life, providing benefits such as reduced loneliness, increased social support, and better access to resources and information. It also opens new avenues for exploring how the internet can be leveraged to support aging populations globally.”
Qingpeng Zhang,
These positive associations were observed across the globe, though the strength of the relationship varied. In middle-income countries like China, the benefits were particularly notable, possibly due to the internet’s role in offering access to services and connections not otherwise available in regions with limited mental health resources.
Further analysis revealed that certain groups experienced more pronounced benefits from internet use. Older adults who were less socially active, physically inactive, or had disabilities reported stronger positive effects. Additionally, those with higher levels of education appeared to experience more significant improvements, potentially due to greater digital literacy.
The benefits of internet use were found to be more pronounced among individuals who used it daily or for longer cumulative periods. However, in some countries, such as England, more frequent internet use was not always linked to higher life satisfaction, suggesting potential cultural or contextual variations.
Importantly, even individuals with a higher genetic predisposition for depression experienced improved mental health outcomes with internet use. This indicates that internet use could help mitigate genetic vulnerabilities to some degree.
“Our study highlights that internet use is linked to better mental health in older adults, reducing depressive symptoms and enhancing life satisfaction across different countries. This suggests that promoting digital inclusion and supporting older adults in using the internet safely and effectively can significantly improve their well-being.”
Qingpeng Zhang,
While the study provides robust evidence connecting internet use to improved mental health among older adults, several limitations must be considered. First, the observational design does not establish causality; it is possible that healthier individuals are more inclined to use the internet, rather than internet use directly improving health. Additionally, the study did not differentiate between specific internet activities, which may have varying impacts on mental health.
“Our study did not differentiate between the types of devices used (e.g., smartphones, tablets, or computers) or the specific purposes of internet use (e.g., socializing, entertainment, or learning), which could influence the outcomes. Additionally, potential risks associated with internet use, such as overuse, exposure to negative content, or vulnerability to online scams, were not considered, which may counterbalance some of the benefits. Future research should address these aspects to provide a more nuanced understanding and inform tailored interventions.”
Qingpeng Zhang,
“Our long-term goals are to deepen the understanding of how digital technology can support mental health and well-being among older adults. Specific patterns of internet use—such as frequency, purpose, and duration—and their effects on mental health outcomes will be explored in future research. Ultimately, evidence-based, personalized digital interventions are hoped to be developed, aimed at improving mental health for older populations globally, while addressing disparities in digital access and skills. This research aligns with the vision of creating inclusive, sustainable strategies to support healthy aging in an increasingly digital world.”
Qingpeng Zhang,
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-024-02048-7
Abstract
The Internet is increasingly important in addressing age-related mental health challenges. We used linear mixed models and meta-analyses to examine the association between Internet use and mental health among 87,559 adults aged ≥50 years from 23 countries. Internet use was associated with fewer depressive symptoms (pooled average marginal effect (AME), −0.09; 95% confidence interval (CI), −0.12 to −0.07), higher life satisfaction (pooled AME, 0.07; 95% CI, 0.05 to 0.10) and better self-reported health (pooled AME, 0.15; 95% CI, 0.12 to 0.17). For two countries (the USA and England) with genetic data available, positive associations between Internet use and mental health were observed across three genetic risk categories. For three countries (the USA, England and China), a higher frequency of Internet use was related to better mental health. Our findings are relevant to public health policies and practices in promoting mental health in later life through the Internet, especially in countries with limited Internet access and mental health services.