The Impact of Depression and Leisure Activities on E-Health Literacy Among Older Adults: A Cross-Cultural Study in the EU and Japan

Health services through digital technologies (e-health) offer a promising solution, but some older adults may encounter difficulties in utilizing these resources due to varying levels of e-health literacy. This study investigated the relationship between depression, leisure activities, and e-health literacy among older adults in the EU and Japan using cross-sectional data from the e-ViTA baseline survey. Findings revealed that depression was negatively associated with e-health literacy in both regions (EU: β = -0.54, 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.79, -0.28; Japan: β= -0.24, 95%CI: -0.46, -0.02). Leisure activities were positively associated with e-health literacy only in the EU (β = 0.55, 95%CI: 0.23, 0.87). Moreover, leisure activities appeared to partially mediate the relationship between depression and e-health literacy in the EU group. These results highlight the need to address mental health issues and promote leisure activities to improve e-health literacy among older adults, emphasizing tailored interventions for different cultural contexts.