Social networking site usage: A systematic review of its relationship with social isolation, loneliness, and depression among older adults

Abstract

Objective

Older adults, age ≥ 60 years, are at risk of depression, which is aggravated by loneliness and social isolation. The use of social networking sites (SNS) has been reported to be beneficial to help people stay in touch with their families and communities. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between SNS usage and social isolation, loneliness, and depression among older adults.

Methods

The online electronic search for literature was conducted up to June 2020 using three databases and searching from reference lists to find potential studies. The inclusion criteria were based on three main study characteristics: (i) a study population of adults age ≥ 60 years, (ii) examine SNS usage, and (iii) report depression or loneliness or social isolation as outcomes.

Results

Fifteen articles were included: ten observational and five experimental studies. Five studies focused on depression and five studies on loneliness/social isolation, while five studies reported on both outcomes. Among observational studies, there was some evidence that SNS usage was associated with lower levels of depression and loneliness scores, but a very limited number of experimental studies were able to obtain similar results. For social isolation, no study found significant associations between SNS usage and lower levels of social isolation.

Conclusions

This review found very limited evidence, especially from experimental studies, to support associations between SNS use with depression, loneliness, and social isolation among older adults. More studies are needed to enhance understanding to make valid conclusions.

Protocol Registration

The systematic review was registered in the PROSPERO database on 10 April 2019 and updated in July 2020 (CRD42019125267).

Keywords:

• Social network
• older adult
• loneliness
• isolation
• depression

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Ms. Chompunuch Saravudecha, Information Resource Analyst, for her suggestions and advice in compiling the search strategy.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

Ethics approval and consent was not required as this was a review of published literature.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Authors’ contributions

NW and ChaiA were involved in the conception and design. NW compiled the search strategy and conducted the literature search; NW, KP, and ChaiA were involved in the screening process. NW, CP, WJ, and ChaiA were involved in data extraction. NW, ChanA, ChaiA were involved in assessing the risk of bias. NW, KP, and ChaiA drafted the manuscript. CP, WJ, and ChanA critically review the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Availability of data and materials

All extracted data used during this study are included in this published article and its supplementary information files

Additional information

Funding

The study did not receive any specific funding.