How Social Media Use at Work Affects Improvement of Older People's Willingness to Delay Retirement During Transfer From Demographic Bonus to Health Bonus: Causal Relationship Empirical Study

How the interplay of late retirement, health care, economic insecurity, and electronic social contact affects the mental health amongst older workers?

The delayed retirement initiative has become increasingly emphasised to cope with the population ageing. Based on the social-ecological model, this study explores the interplay of late retirement, health care, economic insecurity, and electronic social contact on mental health of older workers. Using data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (wave 8), results show that the late retirement, health care quality, and electronic social contact are all negatively associated with the mental health problems among older workers. Besides, the influence of health care quality and electronic social contact on mental health problems are buffered by the economic insecurity respectively. It is concluded that more targeted policy response is in need to achieve better health outcomes among older workers.

Media Use Behavior Mediates the Association Between Family Health and Intention to Use Mobile Health Devices Among Older Adults: Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

With the advent of a new era for health and medical treatment, characterized by the integration of mobile technology, a significant digital divide has surfaced, particularly in the engagement of older individuals with mobile health (mHealth). The health of a family is intricately connected to the well-being of its members, and the use of media plays a crucial role in facilitating mHealth care. Therefore, it is important to examine the mediating role of media use behavior in the connection between the family health of older individuals and their inclination to use mHealth devices.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to investigate the impact of family health and media use behavior on the intention of older individuals to use mHealth devices in China. The study aims to delve into the intricate dynamics to determine whether media use behavior serves as a mediator in the relationship between family health and the intention to use mHealth devices among older adults. The ultimate goal is to offer well-founded and practical recommendations to assist older individuals in overcoming the digital divide.

METHODS

The study used data from 3712 individuals aged 60 and above, sourced from the 2022 Psychology and Behavior Investigation of Chinese Residents study. Linear regression models were used to assess the relationships between family health, media use behavior, and the intention to use mHealth devices. To investigate the mediating role of media use behavior, we used the Sobel-Goodman Mediation Test. This analysis focused on the connection between 4 dimensions of family health and the intention to use mHealth devices.

RESULTS

A positive correlation was observed among family health, media use behavior, and the intention to use mHealth devices (r=0.077-0.178, P<.001). Notably, media use behavior was identified as a partial mediator in the relationship between the overall score of family health and the intention to use mHealth devices, as indicated by the Sobel test (z=5.451, P<.001). Subgroup analysis further indicated that a complete mediating effect was observed specifically between family health resources and the intention to use mHealth devices in older individuals with varying education levels.

CONCLUSIONS

The study revealed the significance of family health and media use behavior in motivating older adults to adopt mHealth devices. Media use behavior was identified as a mediator in the connection between family health and the intention to use mHealth devices, with more intricate dynamics observed among older adults with lower education levels. Going forward, the critical role of home health resources must be maximized, such as initiatives to develop digital education tailored for older adults and the creation of media products specifically designed for them. These measures aim to alleviate technological challenges associated with using media devices among older adults, ultimately bolstering their inclination to adopt mHealth devices.

Association of depressive symptoms with retirement in Chinese employees: evidence from national longitudinal surveys from 2011 to 2018

BACKGROUND

The relationship between depressive symptoms and retirement remains controversial. Thus, we aimed to explore the effect of retirement on individuals' depressive symptoms in Chinese employees.

METHODS

In this panel data analysis, a data set from China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) in 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2018 was adopted with a total of 1390 employees aged ≥ 45-years-old who had complete follow-up for the four waves. Random-effects logistic regression was used to examine the associations between retirement and depressive symptoms.

RESULTS

After adjusting several socio-demographic variables, retirement still increases the risk of depressive symptoms in the retirees (odds ratio 1.5, 95% CI 1.14-1.97). Through subgroup analysis, we found that people who are male, with lower education level, married, living in rural areas, suffering from chronic diseases, and those who do not participate in social activities are more likely to experience depression after retirement.

CONCLUSIONS

Retirement can increase the depression risk of Chinese employees. It is necessary to formulate relevant supporting policies to reduce the risk of depression.

The Effect of Social Media Use on Depressive Symptoms in Older Adults with Self-Reported Hearing Impairment: An Empirical Study

Older people with hearing impairment are more likely to develop depressive symptoms due to physical disability and loss of social communication. This study investigated the effects of social media on social relations, subjective aging, and depressive symptoms in these older adults based on the stimulus-organism-response (S-O-R) framework. It provides new empirical evidence to support improving the mental health and rebuilding the social relations of older people. A formal questionnaire was designed using the Wenjuanxing platform and distributed online through WeChat; 643 valid questionnaires were received from older people with self-reported hearing impairments, and SmartPLS 3.28 was used to analyze the data. The results show that (1) social media significantly impacts the social relations of older people with hearing impairment (social networks, β = 0.132, T = 3.444; social support, β = 0.129, T = 2.95; social isolation, β = 0.107, T = 2.505). (2) For these older people, social isolation has the biggest impact on their psychosocial loss (β = 0.456, T = 10.458), followed by the impact of social support (β = 0.103, T = 2.014); a hypothesis about social network size was not confirmed (β = 0.007, T = 0.182). Both social media (β = 0.096, T = 2.249) and social support (β = 0.174, T = 4.434) significantly affect the self-efficacy of hearing-impaired older people. (3) Both subjective aging (psychosocial loss, β = 0.260, T = 6.036; self-efficacy, β = 0.106, T = 3.15) and social isolation (β = 0.268, T = 6.307) significantly affect depressive symptoms in older people with hearing impairment. This study expands the theories of social media aging cognition, social support, and social networks and can provide practical contributions to the social media use and mental health of special persons 60 years and older.