Guo Lin, Li Yunwei, Cheng Kai, Zhao Ying, Yin Wenqiang, Liu Ying
School of Management, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, China.
School of Humanities and Management, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
J Med Internet Res. 2025 Jan 31;27:e65399. doi: 10.2196/65399.
Depression is a widespread mental health issue affecting older adults globally, with substantial implications for their well-being. Although digital interventions have proven effective in high-income countries, research on the potential of internet usage to alleviate depression among older adults in high-income countries remains limited.
This study aimed to examine the impact of internet usage on depression among older adults in high-income countries by developing a comprehensive theoretical framework and testing key hypotheses.
Using data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), a 2-stage instrumental variable approach was applied to address endogeneity and estimate causal relationships between internet usage and depression.
The findings indicate that internet usage results in a 1.41% reduction in depression levels among older adults. This effect is mediated by four primary mechanisms: (1) enhanced social interaction, (2) increased physical activity, (3) improved intergenerational contact, and (4) expanded access to educational opportunities. A heterogeneity analysis revealed that these effects are more pronounced in urban areas, eastern regions, and regions with superior internet infrastructure.
Internet usage plays a crucial role in alleviating depression among older adults in high-income countries, with regional variations. The findings highlight the need for targeted policy interventions to improve internet access and digital literacy, which can mitigate depression and enhance the mental health of older adults.
抑郁症是一个影响全球老年人的普遍心理健康问题，对他们的幸福有着重大影响。尽管数字干预措施在高收入国家已被证明是有效的，但关于互联网使用对高收入国家老年人抑郁症缓解潜力的研究仍然有限。
本研究旨在通过建立一个全面的理论框架并检验关键假设，来考察互联网使用对高收入国家老年人抑郁症的影响。
利用中国健康与养老追踪调查（CHARLS）的数据，采用两阶段工具变量法来解决内生性问题，并估计互联网使用与抑郁症之间的因果关系。
研究结果表明，互联网使用使老年人的抑郁水平降低了1.41%。这种影响由四种主要机制介导：（1）增强社会互动，（2）增加身体活动，（3）改善代际联系，（4）扩大教育机会获取。异质性分析显示，这些影响在城市地区、东部地区以及互联网基础设施优越的地区更为明显。
互联网使用在缓解高收入国家老年人抑郁症方面发挥着关键作用，存在地区差异。研究结果凸显了针对性政策干预措施的必要性，以改善互联网接入和数字素养，从而减轻抑郁症并增强老年人的心理健康。
