How Internet use relates to mental health in older adults: findings from the Czech Republic and the Republic of Slovenia

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00216224%3A14230%2F25%3A00144518" target="_blank" >RIV/00216224:14230/25:00144518 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1679931/full" target="_blank" >https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1679931/full</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1679931" target="_blank" >10.3389/fpubh.2025.1679931</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

How Internet use relates to mental health in older adults: findings from the Czech Republic and the Republic of Slovenia

Original language description

Objectives: Older adults face challenges in digital engagement, which may be linked to mental health. This study examines associations between Internet use and mental health indicators-depression, loneliness, and well-being-among older adults in the Czech Republic and the Republic of Slovenia, using data from the SHARE Wave 8 survey. Methods: A sample of 5,201 adults aged 50 + (2,706 Czech, 2,495 Slovenian) was analyzed. Internet use in the past 7 days was the dependent variable. Depression (EURO-D), loneliness (Three-Item Scale), and well-being (CASP-12) served as key independent variables. Binary logistic regression was used, controlling for age, gender, education, and partnership status. To address missing data and enhance analytical robustness, a 1-to-many imputation approach was applied. Results: Internet use was positively associated with higher well-being and negatively associated with depression and loneliness in both countries. These associations were stronger in the Republic of Slovenia as compared to the Czech Republic. Age and education were the most significant control variables. Women and individuals living alone in the Republic of Slovenia were less likely to use the Internet. Conclusion: The findings indicate that mental health is significantly associated with Internet use in both countries, though to different degrees, suggesting that national context moderates the relationship between mental health factors and digital engagement. Nonetheless, the binary measure of Internet use represents a limitation, as it does not capture frequency, intensity, or type of online activity. Interventions promoting digital literacy-particularly among older adults with poorer mental health-could enhance digital inclusion and well-being in aging populations.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

—

OECD FORD branch

50401 - Sociology

Project

<a href="/en/project/GF23-05059L" target="_blank" >GF23-05059L: Effects of digitalisation in (post) COVID-19 era on quality of life, and social inclusion of older adults (DIGOLD)</a><br>

Continuities

P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Frontiers in Public Health

ISSN

2296-2565

e-ISSN

2296-2565

Volume of the periodical

13

Issue of the periodical within the volume

November

Country of publishing house

CH - SWITZERLAND

Number of pages

11

Pages from-to

1-11

UT code for WoS article

001633419300001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-105024426120