Relationship Between Short Video Addiction Tendency and Depression Among Rural Older Adults: Cross-Sectional Study

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Mental Health

Background:

• Late-life depression is a growing public health concern.
• Short video addiction tendency is an emerging risk factor for depression.
• Limited research exists on this association in older adults.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate the link between short video addiction tendency and depression in rural older adults.
• Examine the mediating roles of asthenopia and sleep efficiency in this relationship.

Main Methods:

• Face-to-face interviews with 872 rural older adults (≥60 years).
• Utilized validated scales for short video addiction, asthenopia, and depression.
• Linear regression analyses with PROCESS macro to test mediation models.

Main Results:

• Prevalence of depression was 27.8%.
• Significant positive association found between short video addiction tendency and depression (β=.263, P<.001).
• Asthenopia and sleep efficiency partially mediated this relationship through direct, indirect, and chain pathways.

Conclusions:

• Short video addiction tendency is directly associated with depression in rural older adults.
• Asthenopia and sleep efficiency are significant mediators.
• Interventions targeting appropriate app use, eye health, and sleep quality may improve mental health in this population.