Alan R Teo1, Sheila Markwardt2, Ladson Hinton3. 1. VA Portland Health Care System, HSR&D Center to Improve Veteran Involvement in Care; Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health & Science University; School of Public Health, Oregon Health & Science University and Portland State University. Electronic address: teoa@ohsu.edu. 2. School of Public Health, Oregon Health & Science University and Portland State University. 3. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine whether use of certain types of online communication technology is associated with subsequent depressive symptoms. DESIGN: Nationally representative, population-based prospective cohort. SETTING: Data were obtained from the 2012 and 2014 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). PARTICIPANTS: 1,424 community-residing older adults (mean age, 64.8) in the United States. MEASUREMENTS: We examined associations between use of four communication technologies (email, social networks, video chat, and instant messaging) in 2012 and depressive symptoms (eight-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale) at two-year follow-up. RESULTS: 564 participants (39.6%) did not use any communication technologies, 314 (22.1%) used email only, and 255 (17.9%) used video chat (e.g., Skype). Compared to non-users (13.1%, 95% CI: 9.5-16.7%) or those who used only email (14.3%, 95% CI: 10.1-18.5%), users of video chat had approximately half the probability of depressive symptoms (6.9%, 95% CI: 3.5-10.3%, Wald Chi2 test, Chi2(1)=13.82, p < 0.001; 7.6%, 95% CI: 3.6-11.6, Wald Chi2 test, Chi2(1)=13.56, p < 0.001). Use of email, social media, and instant messaging were not associated with a lower risk of depression. CONCLUSIONS: Older adults who use video chat such as Skype, but not other common communication technologies, have a lower risk of developing depression. Published by Elsevier Inc.
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine whether use of certain types of online communication technology is associated with subsequent depressive symptoms. DESIGN: Nationally representative, population-based prospective cohort. SETTING: Data were obtained from the 2012 and 2014 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). PARTICIPANTS: 1,424 community-residing older adults (mean age, 64.8) in the United States. MEASUREMENTS: We examined associations between use of four communication technologies (email, social networks, video chat, and instant messaging) in 2012 and depressive symptoms (eight-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale) at two-year follow-up. RESULTS: 564 participants (39.6%) did not use any communication technologies, 314 (22.1%) used email only, and 255 (17.9%) used video chat (e.g., Skype). Compared to non-users (13.1%, 95% CI: 9.5-16.7%) or those who used only email (14.3%, 95% CI: 10.1-18.5%), users of video chat had approximately half the probability of depressive symptoms (6.9%, 95% CI: 3.5-10.3%, Wald Chi2 test, Chi2(1)=13.82, p < 0.001; 7.6%, 95% CI: 3.6-11.6, Wald Chi2 test, Chi2(1)=13.56, p < 0.001). Use of email, social media, and instant messaging were not associated with a lower risk of depression. CONCLUSIONS: Older adults who use video chat such as Skype, but not other common communication technologies, have a lower risk of developing depression. Published by Elsevier Inc.
Entities:
Keywords:
Health and Retirement Survey; aging; communication technology; computer-mediated communication; depression; major depressive disorder; social interaction
Authors: Chao-Yi Wu; Nora Mattek; Katherine Wild; Lyndsey M Miller; Jeffrey A Kaye; Lisa C Silbert; Hiroko H Dodge Journal: J Am Geriatr Soc Date: 2021-12-13 Impact factor: 5.562
Authors: Brad A Meisner; Veronique Boscart; Pierrette Gaudreau; Paul Stolee; Patricia Ebert; Michelle Heyer; Laura Kadowaki; Christine Kelly; Mélanie Levasseur; Ariane S Massie; Verena Menec; Laura Middleton; Linda Sheiban Taucar; Wendy Loken Thornton; Catherine Tong; Deborah K van den Hoonaard; Kimberley Wilson Journal: Can J Aging Date: 2020-06-10
Authors: Brad A Meisner; Veronique Boscart; Pierrette Gaudreau; Paul Stolee; Patricia Ebert; Michelle Heyer; Laura Kadowaki; Christine Kelly; Mélanie Levasseur; Ariane S Massie; Verena Menec; Laura Middleton; Linda Sheiban Taucar; Wendy Loken Thornton; Catherine Tong; Deborah K van den Hoonaard; Kimberley Wilson Journal: Can J Aging Date: 2020-08-12