Internet use and mental health problems among older people in Shanghai, China: the moderating roles of chronic diseases and household income.

Objectives: This study investigates whether the impact of Internet use on old adults' mental health problems differs across health conditions and income groups in Shanghai, China.
Methods: This study uses data from a large-scale sample of 2117 respondents aged 60-80 years in Shanghai, China. This study measures mental health problems with the 10-item version of the Hopkins Symptom Checklist, assesses Internet use with a 4-item scale and chronic diseases with a 12-item scale. This study applies ordinary least square regression models to assess associations between Internet use and mental health problems across income groups and health conditions.
Results: Elderly people using the Internet more frequently have substantially lower odds of having mental health problems. Further analyses find the moderating roles of chronic diseases and household income on mental health problems. Chronic diseases significantly increase the correlation of Internet use with mental health problems. Meanwhile, Internet use reduces more elders' mental health problems in the low-income group than in the high-income group.
Conclusion: This study sheds evidence on the negative correlation of Internet use with mental health problems. It also indicates that Internet use may reduce more mental health problems in the low-income group and the unhealthy group. Therefore, increasing Internet use in the low-income group and the unhealthy group is suggested as a promising strategy to promote elders' mental health.