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Bridging the Digital Divide: The Mediating Role of Social Engagement in Technology Use and Mental Health

AI Summary

Social engagement mediates the relationship between ICT use and reduced depression and anxiety among older adults.
Older ICT users exhibited greater social engagement and lower depression and anxiety compared with non-users.
Communication and interactive ICT use promotes social connectedness and mental health; information-only use showed no significant associations.

AI Summary

ObjectivesThis study examined whether social engagement mediates the relationship between information and communication technology (ICT) use and depression and anxiety among older Americans.MethodsData came from 5,195 respondents in the 2022 National Health and Aging Trends Study. Multivariate mediation analyses were conducted using bootstrapping and Monte Carlo simulation to estimate indirect effects.ResultsCompared with non-users, ICT users showed greater social engagement and lower depression and anxiety, with social engagement mediating these associations. CT-only use was indirectly associated with lower depression and anxiety through social engagement, whereas IT-only use showed no significant associations.DiscussionFindings suggest that the mental health benefits of ICT use in later life depend on how technology is used.

Basic summary

J Aging Health. 2026 May 25:8982643261451913. doi: 10.1177/08982643261451913. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

ObjectivesThis study examined whether social engagement mediates the relationship between information and communication technology (ICT) use and depression and anxiety among older Americans.MethodsData came from 5,195 respondents in the 2022 National Health and Aging Trends Study. Multivariate mediation analyses were conducted using bootstrapping and Monte Carlo simulation to estimate indirect effects.ResultsCompared with non-users, ICT users showed greater social engagement and lower depression and anxiety, with social engagement mediating these associations. CT-only use was indirectly associated with lower depression and anxiety through social engagement, whereas IT-only use showed no significant associations.DiscussionFindings suggest that the mental health benefits of ICT use in later life depend on how technology is used. Interactive and communication-oriented technology use, rather than information-only use, may support psychological well-being by fostering social engagement and social connectedness in later life.

PMID:42183818 | DOI:10.1177/08982643261451913

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