You’ve probably heard that time on the internet is terrible for your mental health. However, a new study could flip that on its head – it suggests that time online could help adults over the age of 50 reduce symptoms of depression by around 9 per cent.
The research, which analysed more than 87,500 adults, also suggests it may boost overall life satisfaction. Internet users also, on average, rated their health as 15 per cent better than their non-internet user counterparts.
“For people in their later life, who often face mobility and activity restrictions, internet use offers a valuable opportunity and an alternative for accessing health-related information, and it provides an important channel for social connections and online entertainment,” the co-authors wrote in the study.
“By overcoming social and spatial barriers, internet use can facilitate connections with family and friends and expand social networks among middle-aged and older adults.”
The study – published in the journal Nature – analysed the internet habits of individuals from 23 countries, who reported on the frequency and nature of their usage. Then, researchers considered how these online habits impacted symptoms of depression and participants’ life satisfaction.
Adults from the US, UK and China experienced the most positive impacts. Benefits were also strong for users over the age of 65, who were unmarried and otherwise had lower levels of social contact.
What’s more, participants didn’t need to use the internet frequently to receive the benefits. Across the six groups that the researchers focused on, some users used the internet less than once a week. However, in countries like China, the US and UK, adults who used the internet more often tended to have better mental health.
“These benefits were consistent across countries, highlighting the potential of the Internet as a tool for improving mental health globally,” Dr Qingpeng Zhang, co-author of the study told BBC Science Focus.
While the study’s data did not reveal information about the potential negative effects of the internet on mental health, some experts argue it’s a double-edged sword.
“We should not see all Internet use as a homogenous impact. I like to see the internet as a tool which, if used appropriately and in moderation can help connect people to others, but it cannot replace face-to-face meaningful interaction which is so important to reduce loneliness,” Professor Andrea Wigfield, the director of the Centre for Loneliness Studies – who was not involved in the research – told BBC Science Focus.
“Loneliness is a natural human emotion – a sense of belonging to places and spaces during times of transition can be a source of comfort to reduce feelings of loneliness.”
About our experts:
Dr Qingpeng Zhang is an associate professor at the University of Hong Kong. His research focuses on data science, including analysing the healthcare sector and how AI can be used in drug discovery.
Dr Andrea Wigfield is the director of the Centre for Loneliness Studies and co-director of the Campaign to End Loneliness. She also researches at Sheffield Hallam University and specialises in social isolation and wellbeing.
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