The impact of social media usage on the mental health of elderly people in Jiangxi, China
List of Authors
  • Geng Changjian , Zhang Kailai

Keyword
  • Social Media Use, Elderly, Mental Health

Abstract
  • This study conducted an in-depth analysis of the impact of social media use on the mental health of the elderly in Jiangxi Province, paying special attention to the effects of positive and negative content on the life satisfaction and emotional state of the elderly. Through questionnaires, we found that positive content on social media, such as motivational stories and health messages, was generally perceived to have a positive impact on mental health, while negative content, such as rumors and negative news, was generally perceived to have a negative impact on mental health. In addition, the frequency of social media use was positively correlated with life satisfaction, which is an important measure of mental health. However, the correlation between time spent on social media and life satisfaction was not significant. These findings highlight the importance of social media content to the mental health of older adults and suggest potential ways to optimize the social media environment to promote users' mental health. The findings provide valuable insights into understanding the role of social media in modern life and point to directions for future research and practice.

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