Associations between older adults’ social media use behaviors and psychosocial well-being

Abstract

<h3>Background</h3><p>Research examining associations between social media use behaviors and psychosocial well-being among older adults are limited.</p><h3>Aims</h3><p>To explore associations between older adults’ social media (social networking services and instant messaging applications) use behaviors and psychosocial well-being.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>This was a secondary data analysis. All data were retrieved from the Taiwan Communication Survey database, an annual survey that examines trends in Taiwanese residents’ communication behaviors and social media use. The original investigation was conducted in Taiwan from September to December 2019. Data from 647 older adults aged over 60 years were extracted for the analyses. Social media use behaviors (users/non-users and time spent using), positive psychosocial outcomes (life satisfaction, self-determination, subjective well-being, and happiness), negative psychosocial outcomes (loneliness, depression, and anxiety), and demographic variables were included.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Social media users had significantly higher levels of subjective well-being and lower levels of depression, anxiety, and loneliness compared with non-users. Time spent on social networking services was significantly and positively correlated with negative psychosocial outcomes (<em>β</em> = 0.103, <em>p</em> = 0.044, <em>f</em>^<em>2</em> = 0.011), and it was significantly and inversely correlated with positive psychosocial outcomes (<em>β</em> = − 0.063, <em>p</em> = 0.049, <em>f</em>^<em>2</em> = 0.004). Time spent using an instant messaging application was significantly positively associated with positive psychosocial outcomes (<em>β</em> = 0.068, <em>p</em> = 0.031, <em>f</em>^<em>2</em> = 0.005). The proposed path model had an acceptable model fit.</p><h3>Discussion</h3><p>Study results indicated that older adults’ social media use behaviors were associated with their psychosocial well-being.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Older adults are recommended to use social media for appropriate time periods as an important way to promote social engagement for their psychosocial well-being.</p>