Abstract
The number of elderly Internet users has increased significantly in the past few years. However, the impact of Internet use on mental health remains unclear. In this study, we performed a difference-in-differences analysis using data from the 2016 and 2018 waves of the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) to evaluate the impact of Internet usage on mental health among elderly individuals. A total of 5031 validated respondents were included to explore the relationship between Internet use and reduced levels of depression as well as improved life satisfaction among elderly individuals. The results showed that Internet use significantly reduced depression levels. Unexpectedly, Internet use was not found to improve life satisfaction. Moreover, discontinuing Internet use was not significantly associated with improvements in depression or life satisfaction. More research is needed to fully elucidate the relationship between Internet use and depression levels, as well as life satisfaction among elderly individuals.
Highlights
Differences Study Based onIn the information age, the rapid spread of Internet technologies has strongly impacted all aspects of people’s lives, and new technologies such as online social networking, travel reservations, and mobile payments have brought great convenience to the daily lives of elderly individuals
Descriptive analyses were performed on the percentage of Internet use, life satisfaction, and depression level of the sample in 2016 and 2018
The percentage of Internet use among elderly individuals was higher among men than women
Summary
Differences Study Based onIn the information age, the rapid spread of Internet technologies has strongly impacted all aspects of people’s lives, and new technologies such as online social networking, travel reservations, and mobile payments have brought great convenience to the daily lives of elderly individuals. According to “The 47th China Statistical Report on Internet Development”, issued by the China Internet Network Information Center, the proportion of “Elderly Internet users” reached approximately 260 million, as of December 2020, accounting for 18.4% of the total population. Considering the availability of home-based community care services, elderly people could use the Internet to establish connections with the outside world, integrate into society and increase their social participation. Elderly individuals may encounter numerous embarrassing and difficult situations because of the digital divide [5]
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