Internet Use and Depressive Symptoms among Older Adults in the U.S.: Unraveling the Differences by Gender

The daily Internet use among older adults has increased. This study examines how Internet usage affects depressive symptoms among older adults, focusing on gender differences. Using data from the 2015 National Health and Aging Trends Study (N = 6380), weighted multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted. Men tended to access the Internet more for instrumental purposes and health-related matters compared to women. Conversely, women used social networking sites (SNSs) more frequently. Men were more inclined to use the Internet for personal tasks and health concerns than women. SNS use was positively associated with mild and major depression in men, while email or texting was negatively linked to their major depression. Internet use for health matters was negatively associated with major depression in women. The discussion emphasizes potential service and policy innovations aimed at leveraging digital technology to improve the mental health of older individuals, considering gender differences.