Abstract
Background: The uses and gratifications theory suggests that various types of media can greatly affect people’s lives. This is especially true among older adults who tend to use media for leisure. However, there is insufficient research regarding the relationship between media usage, depression, and quality of life among older adults. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the association between media usage (traditional and internet media), depression, and quality of life among older adults. Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, this study recruited individuals aged 65 years and older in central Taiwan and collected data via a structured questionnaire. Contents of the questionnaire included demographic details, a media usage behavior questionnaire, the Brief Symptoms Rating Scale (BSRS-5), and the Quality of Life Scale developed by the World Health Organization (WHOQOL-BREF). Subsequently, multiple regression analyses were conducted to investigate the association between media usage, depression, and quality of life of older adults. Results: The average age of the 252 participants (107 males) was 70.0 ± 5.4 years. Regression analysis revealed a significant, negative relationship between the number of hours spent watching television and the degree of depression. Additionally, the number of hours spent watching television was significantly negatively related to the quality of life in terms of both the psychological health and social relationships categories. In contrast, the number of hours spent reading newspapers and magazines was significantly positively related to quality of life in the categories of psychological health, social relationships, and environment. Finally, the number of hours spent browsing internet media was significantly positively related to the quality of life in the psychological health category. Conclusion: Media usage may affect the degree of depression and quality of life of older adults depending on the type of media and amount of usage.
Highlights
Media has evolved significantly with changing times and the advancement of technology
The present study found that older adults mostly watched TV as their primary source of traditional media, with the majority doing so for over 4 h per day
The study discovered that a greater number of hours spent watching TV over the weekend was associated with a lower quality of life in the psychological health and social relationships categories
Summary
Media has evolved significantly with changing times and the advancement of technology. Based on its complex message delivery system and continuously innovative characteristics, media is divided into two types: (1) non-internet media, which includes traditional media such as television (TV), newspapers, magazines, and radio, and (2) internet media, which includes novel online media such as the internet and social networking sites [1,2,3,4] Both these media types can influence the mood and behavior of the audience (readers and listeners), reflect their individualized thoughts and preferences, and affect their quality of life [5]. The number of hours spent watching television was significantly negatively related to the quality of life in terms of both the psychological health and social relationships categories. The number of hours spent reading newspapers and magazines was significantly positively related to quality of life in the categories of psychological health, social relationships, and environment. Conclusion: Media usage may affect the degree of depression and quality of life of older adults depending on the type of media and amount of usage
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
