What type of study is this?

This is a Cross-Sectional study.

September 5, 2025

The Association of Loneliness and Depression With Sociodemographic Characteristics and Internet Use Among Older Adults During the COVID‐19 Pandemic

Puntos clave

Loneliness and depression are significantly linked to sociodemographic factors among older adults.
Married individuals and those with lower incomes reported higher loneliness; higher depression scores were seen in females.
Among the 330 participants, 52.4% never used the internet, indicating a need for better digital connectivity.
Findings suggest that while internet use may lessen loneliness, its role in alleviating depression is limited.

Resumen

ABSTRACT Background Social restrictions during the novel coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID‐19) pandemic negatively impacted the mental health of older adults. This study aimed to examine the associations of loneliness and depression with sociodemographic characteristics and internet use among older adults during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Methods This cross‐sectional study included 330 geriatric patients between September 1, 2021, and June 1, 2022. Data were collected through face‐to‐face interviews using a questionnaire consisting of a personal information form, the Loneliness Scale for Elderly, and the Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form‐15 (GDS‐15). Results The participants had a mean age of 71.3 years, 60.3% were female, and regarding internet use, 52.4% reported never using it, 18.8% used it occasionally, and 28.8% used it daily. The most common internet activities were video calls with relatives/friends (39.4%) and sharing messages, photos, or videos via messaging apps (38.2%). In the multivariate linear regression analysis, being married, having low income, living alone, having fewer than five friends, and not using the internet at all were significantly associated with higher levels of loneliness, while higher depression scores were observed among females compared to males and among individuals with low income compared to those with middle or high income. Conclusions The findings suggest that internet use may have a protective role against loneliness in older adults; however, its effect on reducing depression appears to be limited.

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