Res Gerontol Nurs. 2025 Jul 18:1-11. doi: 10.3928/19404921-20250627-01. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Understanding how social media use (SMU) embedded in daily routines influences mental health in older adulthood is crucial. We explored whether integration-based SMU relates to depressive symptoms and whether social support mediates that link, considering online network size.
METHOD: A cross-sectional survey of 371 community-dwelling adults aged ≥55 years measured SMU integration, social support, depressive symptoms, demographics, health, and network size. Mediation analysis with bias-corrected bootstrapping assessed direct and indirect paths.
RESULTS: Greater SMU integration corresponded with slightly higher depressive scores. Higher social support predicted lower symptoms but did not explain the SMU-depression association. Participants with medium-sized networks reported the strongest support; larger networks offered no additional benefit.
CONCLUSION: Deeply embedding social media in daily routines may modestly intensify depressive feelings, whereas maintaining a moderate circle of online ties seems most supportive. Interventions should foster balanced engagement and manageable networks among older adult users. [Research in Gerontological Nursing, xx(x), xx-xx.].
PMID:40663714 | DOI:10.3928/19404921-20250627-01
Recent Comments