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What Accounts for the Relationship Between Internet Use and Suicidal Ideation of Korean Older Adults? A Mediation Analysis

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  • Hey Jung Jun
  • Myoung-Yong Kim

Abstract

ObjectivesThis study sought to examine the relationship between Internet use and suicidal ideation in Korean older adults and the mediating roles of social relationships and depressive symptoms.MethodA nationally representative sample of older adults aged 50 or older (N = 6,306), from four waves of the Korean Welfare Panel Study, was used in the analyses. All analyses were conducted using generalized estimation equations, and the mediation effects of social relationship satisfaction and depression in the relationship between Internet use and suicidal ideation were calculated using the product-of-coefficients approach.ResultsInternet use was linked with lower levels of suicidal ideation directly and indirectly via the protective effects of Internet use on lowering depression, which was partially mediated by the positive influence Internet use has on older adults’ social relationship satisfaction.DiscussionThe results support previous theories about the relationship between social relationships, depression, and suicidal behavior and prior results about how the Internet might confer mental and social health benefits to older adults. This suggests that the Internet is an important social and health activity that contributes to lowering suicidal ideation in older adults.

Suggested Citation

  • Hey Jung Jun & Myoung-Yong Kim, 2017. "What Accounts for the Relationship Between Internet Use and Suicidal Ideation of Korean Older Adults? A Mediation Analysis," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 72(5), pages 846-855.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:geronb:v:72:y:2017:i:5:p:846-855.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/geronb/gbw163
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    Cited by:

    1. Park, Sunhee & Kim, Beomsoo, 2022. "The impact of everyday AI-based smart speaker use on the well-being of older adults living alone," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    2. Keisuke Kokubun & Toshimi Ogawa & Ryan Browne & Takamitsu Shinada & Lorenz Granrath & Johanna Moeller & Nhu Tram & Rainer Wieching & Yasuyuki Taki, 2022. "Social Capital Mediates the Association between the ICT Usage and Well-Being of Older People in Japan: Implication for a New Design Paradigm," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-20, March.
    3. Seçkin, Gül, 2020. "Expansion of Parson's sick role into cyberspace: Patient information consumerism and subjective health in a representative sample of U.S. internet users," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 247(C).

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