In a recent study published in the journal EClinicalMedicine , researchers investigated the association between internet exclusion and depressive symptoms among older adults from high-income countries (HICs) and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Study: Association between internet exclusion and depressive symptoms among older adults: panel data analysis of five longitudinal cohort studies . Image Credit: PeopleImages.
com - Yuri A / Shutterstock Background The global population is aging rapidly, with one-sixth expected to be 60 or older by 2030. At a worldwide prevalence of 35.1%, older adults often face depressive symptoms.
These symptoms have links to various health issues and potentially lead to clinical depression if untreated. Concurrently, internet usage is expanding, but many older adults remain excluded, leading to adverse cognitive and social outcomes. Research on the link between internet exclusion and depression in older adults is inconsistent and limited.
Further research is needed to clarify the inconsistent findings on the association between internet exclusion and depressive symptoms in older adults and to identify vulnerable subpopulations across different socioeconomic contexts. About the study Data were collected from five international aging cohorts: the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), the Mexican Health and Ageing Study (MHAS), and the .