The Relationship Between Internet Use for Social Purposes, Loneliness, and Depressive Symptoms Among the Oldest Old

Abstract

The internet enables communication with social partners and has been found to be related to higher psychological well-being among older adults. Using data from the representative German North Rhine-Westphalia 80+ (NRW80+) study ( n = 1,698, M age = 84.86), we conducted linear regression and mediation analyses to compare levels of loneliness and depressive symptoms of onliners using the internet for social or other purposes with offliners. Oldest old onliners used the internet mostly for social purposes, and this type of internet use was related to a significantly lower level of loneliness and fewer depressive symptoms compared to offliners. The mediation analysis revealed that internet use for social purposes was related to lower levels of loneliness, which in turn was associated with a lower number of depressive symptoms. The findings suggest that internet use for social purposes may help the oldest old to reduce feelings of loneliness and depressive symptoms.