Social Media Use and Depression in Older Adults A Systematic Review

Social media has become an integral part of everyday life and revolutionized how older adults commu-nicate and interact with others. The aim of the current review was to identify and synthesize quantitative studies addressing the potential relationship between social media use and depression in older adults. Medline, CINAHL, and PsycINFO databases were used to identify studies performed up to July 2020. Key-words identified were depression, social media use, and older adults. A nuanced relationship was revealed between social media use and depression in older adults. There were noted differences in the concep-tualization of social media use. The reviewed studies lacked exploration of structural characteristics, ex-amination of content, and quality of interactions in older adults' social media use. Health variables, social factors, and age cohort differences could influence the relationship between social media use and de-pression. Further studies are needed to enhance the understanding and explore the benefits and poten-tial disadvantages of social media use in older adults. [Research in Gerontological Nursing, 16(2), 97-104.]

Automated summary

Social media has become an integral part of everyday life, changing how older adults communicate and interact. This review aimed to explore the potential relationship between social media use and depression in older adults through quantitative studies. The results showed a nuanced relationship between social media use and depression. However, the reviewed studies lacked exploration of structural characteristics, content, and interaction quality in older adults' social media use. Health variables, social factors, and age cohort differences could influence this relationship.