Social media linked to worse mental health in Canadian seniors

Seniors are considered the fastest-growing group on the Internet, with 83% of Canadian seniors engaging in online activities in 2022. The use of the Internet has been linked to reduced social isolation and loneliness. However, the literature also presents mixed findings on the impact of digital communication tools on mental health among older adults, with some studies suggesting that digital behaviors may be associated with poorer mental health outcomes.

Over half of participants reported engaging in digital communication activities. After adjusting for covariates, email use was significantly positively associated with perceived mental health (Adjβ=0.113; p<0.001), while use of social networking sites was associated with poorer perceived mental health (Adjβ=-0.080; p=0.002). No significant associations were found for instant messaging, online voice or video calls, dating websites, or uploading content. The authors suggest one possible explanation for the negative association between perceived mental health and social media may be exposure to distressing content as well as social comparison.

Source:

PLOS

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