Abstract
Objectives: This study aimed to determine whether use of certain types of online communication technology is associated with subsequent depressive symptoms. Design: Nationally representative, population-based prospective cohort. Setting: Data were obtained from the 2012 and 2014 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Participants: 1,424 community-residing older adults (mean age, 64.8) in the United States. Measurements: We examined associations between use of four communication technologies (email, social networks, video chat, and instant messaging) in 2012 and depressive symptoms (eight-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale) at two-year follow-up. Results: 564 participants (39.6%) did not use any communication technologies, 314 (22.1%) used email only, and 255 (17.9%) used video chat (e.g., Skype). Compared to non-users (13.1%, 95% CI: 9.5-16.7%) or those who used only email (14.3%, 95% CI: 10.1-18.5%), users of video chat had approximately half the probability of depressive symptoms (6.9%, 95% CI: 3.5-10.3%, Wald Chi2 test, Chi2 (1)=13.82, p < 0.001; 7.6%, 95% CI: 3.6-11.6, Wald Chi2 test, Chi2 (1)=13.56, p < 0.001). Use of email, social media, and instant messaging were not associated with a lower risk of depression. Conclusions: Older adults who use video chat such as Skype, but not other common communication technologies, have a lower risk of developing depression.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Journal | American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry |
| DOIs | |
| State | Accepted/In press - Jan 1 2018 |
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Keywords
- aging
- communication technology
- computer-mediated communication
- depression
- Health and Retirement Survey
- major depressive disorder
- social interaction
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Geriatrics and Gerontology
- Psychiatry and Mental health
Cite this
Using Skype to Beat the Blues : Longitudinal Data from a National Representative Sample. / Teo, Alan R.; Markwardt, Sheila; Hinton, W Ladson.
In: American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 01.01.2018.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Using Skype to Beat the Blues
T2 - Longitudinal Data from a National Representative Sample
AU - Teo, Alan R.
AU - Markwardt, Sheila
AU - Hinton, W Ladson
PY - 2018/1/1
Y1 - 2018/1/1
N2 - Objectives: This study aimed to determine whether use of certain types of online communication technology is associated with subsequent depressive symptoms. Design: Nationally representative, population-based prospective cohort. Setting: Data were obtained from the 2012 and 2014 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Participants: 1,424 community-residing older adults (mean age, 64.8) in the United States. Measurements: We examined associations between use of four communication technologies (email, social networks, video chat, and instant messaging) in 2012 and depressive symptoms (eight-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale) at two-year follow-up. Results: 564 participants (39.6%) did not use any communication technologies, 314 (22.1%) used email only, and 255 (17.9%) used video chat (e.g., Skype). Compared to non-users (13.1%, 95% CI: 9.5-16.7%) or those who used only email (14.3%, 95% CI: 10.1-18.5%), users of video chat had approximately half the probability of depressive symptoms (6.9%, 95% CI: 3.5-10.3%, Wald Chi2 test, Chi2 (1)=13.82, p < 0.001; 7.6%, 95% CI: 3.6-11.6, Wald Chi2 test, Chi2 (1)=13.56, p < 0.001). Use of email, social media, and instant messaging were not associated with a lower risk of depression. Conclusions: Older adults who use video chat such as Skype, but not other common communication technologies, have a lower risk of developing depression.
AB - Objectives: This study aimed to determine whether use of certain types of online communication technology is associated with subsequent depressive symptoms. Design: Nationally representative, population-based prospective cohort. Setting: Data were obtained from the 2012 and 2014 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Participants: 1,424 community-residing older adults (mean age, 64.8) in the United States. Measurements: We examined associations between use of four communication technologies (email, social networks, video chat, and instant messaging) in 2012 and depressive symptoms (eight-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale) at two-year follow-up. Results: 564 participants (39.6%) did not use any communication technologies, 314 (22.1%) used email only, and 255 (17.9%) used video chat (e.g., Skype). Compared to non-users (13.1%, 95% CI: 9.5-16.7%) or those who used only email (14.3%, 95% CI: 10.1-18.5%), users of video chat had approximately half the probability of depressive symptoms (6.9%, 95% CI: 3.5-10.3%, Wald Chi2 test, Chi2 (1)=13.82, p < 0.001; 7.6%, 95% CI: 3.6-11.6, Wald Chi2 test, Chi2 (1)=13.56, p < 0.001). Use of email, social media, and instant messaging were not associated with a lower risk of depression. Conclusions: Older adults who use video chat such as Skype, but not other common communication technologies, have a lower risk of developing depression.
KW - aging
KW - communication technology
KW - computer-mediated communication
KW - depression
KW - Health and Retirement Survey
KW - major depressive disorder
KW - social interaction
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85056314287&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85056314287&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jagp.2018.10.014
DO - 10.1016/j.jagp.2018.10.014
M3 - Article
C2 - 30442532
AN - SCOPUS:85056314287
JO - American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
JF - American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
SN - 1064-7481
ER -