Web helps silver surfers lead more satisfying life

IN this age of smartphones and high tech gadgets aimed at keeping us online all day, it’s no wonder that screen addiction and depression is a serious concern for young people.

The opposite, however, can be said for Ireland’s over-50s, as a study has found that using the internet every day can lead to higher rates of happiness among ‘silver surfers’.

Emails to family and friends, Facebook updates and other communications appear very beneficial, the study claims. Its researchers say more should be done to encourage older people online.

The study by University College London involved over 9,000 people who were asked if they used the web daily, weekly, once a month or less, or never. Their levels of depression and satisfaction in life were judged using questionnaires over a period of up to four years.

Adults who used the internet the most saw the biggest rise in their life satisfaction. Those who used it for communication also showed fewer signs of depression.

Dr Stephen Jivraj, senior author of the study, said: ‘Our findings suggest older people who engage with social media or communicate online have better mental health.

‘It may be that older people who cannot communicate with children and grandchildren, because they live far away, can benefit from speaking to them remotely.’

A quarter of the 9,169 subjects did not use the internet – their average age being 75, much higher than for the group as a whole.

Researchers assessed mental health by posing statements such as ‘So far I have got the important things I want in life’.

They were given a depression score based on whether they had experienced any of eight symptoms in the past week. Daily internet users saw better life satisfaction – but not reduced depression – compared with those who used the internet monthly or less often. However, both depression and life satisfaction improved in those people who used the internet for communication.