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Wang X, Ye X. Internet access during COVID-19 and depressive symptoms in middle-aged and older adults: Evidence from a quasi-experimental study in China. J Affect Disord 2024; 367:324-332. [PMID: 39236890 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.08.233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2024] [Revised: 08/23/2024] [Accepted: 08/31/2024] [Indexed: 09/07/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the mental health of middle-aged and older adults has become an increasing concern, and the role of the internet in addressing this public health crisis has drawn the attention of researchers. This study evaluated the impact of internet access during COVID-19 on depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older adults. METHODS Data were derived from China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) 2018 and 2020. Difference-in-differences analysis was performed to compare changes in depressive symptoms between the internet users during COVID-19 and those who didn't have access to the internet before and during the pandemic. RESULTS We found that internet access during COVID-19 pandemic significantly reduced middle-aged and older adults' depressive symptoms. Further investigation identified the underlying mechanisms through which internet access helps in alleviating depressive symptoms by reducing the likelihood of experiencing negative emotions about COVID-19. Heterogeneity analyses showed that rural residents and middle-aged individuals benefited more from internet access during the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS Since internet access can alleviate middle-aged and older adults' depressive symptoms amidst public health crisis, policy makers should focus on enhancing their access to the internet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinfeng Wang
- Institute for Global Public Policy, Fudan University, China.
| | - Xin Ye
- Institute for Global Public Policy, Fudan University, China; LSE-Fudan Research Centre for Global Public Policy, Fudan University, China.
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Ikram MA, Kieboom BCT, Brouwer WP, Brusselle G, Chaker L, Ghanbari M, Goedegebure A, Ikram MK, Kavousi M, de Knegt RJ, Luik AI, van Meurs J, Pardo LM, Rivadeneira F, van Rooij FJA, Vernooij MW, Voortman T, Terzikhan N. The Rotterdam Study. Design update and major findings between 2020 and 2024. Eur J Epidemiol 2024; 39:183-206. [PMID: 38324224 DOI: 10.1007/s10654-023-01094-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
The Rotterdam Study is a population-based cohort study, started in 1990 in the district of Ommoord in the city of Rotterdam, the Netherlands, with the aim to describe the prevalence and incidence, unravel the etiology, and identify targets for prediction, prevention or intervention of multifactorial diseases in mid-life and elderly. The study currently includes 17,931 participants (overall response rate 65%), aged 40 years and over, who are examined in-person every 3 to 5 years in a dedicated research facility, and who are followed-up continuously through automated linkage with health care providers, both regionally and nationally. Research within the Rotterdam Study is carried out along two axes. First, research lines are oriented around diseases and clinical conditions, which are reflective of medical specializations. Second, cross-cutting research lines transverse these clinical demarcations allowing for inter- and multidisciplinary research. These research lines generally reflect subdomains within epidemiology. This paper describes recent methodological updates and main findings from each of these research lines. Also, future perspective for coming years highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Arfan Ikram
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands.
| | - Brenda C T Kieboom
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Willem Pieter Brouwer
- Department of Hepatology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Guy Brusselle
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Pulmonology, University Hospital Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Layal Chaker
- Department of Epidemiology, and Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Mohsen Ghanbari
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - André Goedegebure
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - M Kamran Ikram
- Department of Epidemiology, and Department of Neurology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Maryam Kavousi
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Rob J de Knegt
- Department of Hepatology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Annemarie I Luik
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Joyce van Meurs
- Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Luba M Pardo
- Department of Dermatology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Fernando Rivadeneira
- Department of Medicine, and Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Frank J A van Rooij
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Meike W Vernooij
- Department of Epidemiology, and Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Trudy Voortman
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Natalie Terzikhan
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
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