Highlights
- •What is the primary question addressed by this study?Is the use of certain types of online communication technology associated with subsequent depressive symptoms?
- •What is the main finding of this study?We found that users of video chat had approximately half the probability of depressive symptoms at two-year follow-up compared to non-users and users of email, social media, and instant messaging.
- •What is the meaning of the finding?This study points to the novel possibility that among older adults use of video chat technologies like Skype may indicate lower risk for developing signs and symptoms of depression years later.
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.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: October 29, 2018
Accepted:
October 23,
2018
Received in revised form:
October 3,
2018
Received:
June 29,
2018
Footnotes
Previous Presentation: None.
Identification
Copyright
Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry.
