Internet media and depression in older adults experiencing pain: Evidence from a five-year longitudinal study (2018–2023)

Abstract

Background: Pain is a significant risk factor for depression among older adults. While prior studies suggest that internet media may improve mental well-being, it remains unclear whether such media can reduce pain-related depression. Objectives: This five-year longitudinal study explores the potential moderating effect of internet media on the relationship between pain and depression among older adults. Methods: Participants were sourced from 2018, 2020, and 2023 waves of the China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey, and this study utilized 3240 “person-year” observations from 1080 respondents. An individual fixed effects model was employed. The presence of pain, depression (measured by the CES-D scale), and media preference (measured by comparing internet and traditional media use frequency) were assessed. Subgroup heterogeneity was also explored. Results: The findings revealed that media preference significantly moderated the relationship between pain and depression among older adults (β = −0.725, p < .01). Compared with traditional media, internet media was more effective in alleviating depression in individuals experiencing pain. The engagement breadth of internet media also exhibited a buffering effect. Heterogeneity analysis further illustrated that the beneficial effects of internet media were more pronounced among older adults who were less educated (β = −0.865, p < .01) and retired (β = −0.887, p < .01). Conclusion: This study enhances the understanding of the theoretical and practical aspects of internet media's moderating role in depression among older adults. It also highlights heterogeneous effects in vulnerable subpopulations. The findings offer insights for developing non-pharmacological interventions to address depression associated with pain, contributing to promoting mental health in the aging population.