Are Internet and Social Network Usage Associated with Wellbeing and Social Inclusion of Seniors? - The Third Age Online Survey on Digital Media Use in Three European Countries

Research on the psychosocial effects of Internet and social network usage in seniors is either contradictory or sparse. As part of the Third Age Online project, this paper reports a cross-sectional survey conducted in Germany, the Netherlands and in Switzerland. The survey, utilizing regression analysis, examined whether or not social inclusion and mental wellbeing were predictors of Internet usage and social network usage. Results showed that social inclusion variables were associated with both Internet usage and social network usage. Internet usage was associated with respondents who were both less and more socially included. Mental wellbeing was positively related to Internet usage but not to social network usage. In further studies, longitudinal designs are needed to reveal the directions of causality between Internet/social network usage and mental wellbeing/social inclusion.