Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41047381›Full record

ArticleBMC public health2025

The bidirectional relationship between social participation, social media use and depressive symptoms: a nationwide longitudinal study.

Ting Zheng, Xiao Zheng, Benli Xue, Shujuan Xiao, Lingli Yang, Xinyi Zhang, Chengyu Chen, Xinru Li, Mengjie Zhang, Yanming Liao and 2 more

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In one paragraph

Article in BMC public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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1citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Ting ZhengSchool of Health Management, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
Xiao ZhengKey Laboratory of Philosophy and Social Sciences of Colleges and Universities in Guangdong Province for Collaborative Innovation of Health Management Policy and Precision Health Service, Guangzhou, China.
Benli XueSchool of Health Management, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
Shujuan XiaoSchool of Health Management, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
Lingli YangKey Laboratory of Philosophy and Social Sciences of Colleges and Universities in Guangdong Province for Collaborative Innovation of Health Management Policy and Precision Health Service, Guangzhou, China.
Xinyi ZhangSchool of Health Management, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
Chengyu ChenSchool of Health Management, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
Xinru LiSchool of Health Management, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
Mengjie ZhangSchool of Health Management, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
Yanming LiaoSchool of Health Management, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
Yuyang LiSchool of Health Management, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
Chichen ZhangSchool of Health Management, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China. zhangchichen@sina.com.

Funding

Guangdong Philosophy and Social Science Foundation GD23CGL06National Natural Science Foundation of China 72274091
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundImproving the mental health and digital divide issues is crucial for promoting active aging. This study aimed to examine the bidirectional relationship and intricate mechanisms between social participation, social media use, and depressive symptoms among a nationwide sample of Chinese older adults.

methodsWe utilized data from two waves (2018, 2020) of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey, which included 4928 older adults aged 60 years and above. We Used a cross-lagged model to examine the bidirectional relationship between social participation, social media use, and depressive symptoms.

resultsIn two years, social media use competency and social participation frequency can be predicted bidirectionally, and social media use competency and depressive symptoms can also be predicted bidirectionally. However, there is no cross-temporal bidirectional relationship between social participation frequency and depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms can predict social participation frequency two years later, while social participation frequency cannot directly predict depressive symptoms. The mediation analysis indicated that social media use competency played a complete mediating role between social participation frequency and depressive symptoms.

conclusionsContinuous social participation may enhance social media use competency and alleviate depressive symptoms in older adults. Social media use may alleviate the decrease in social participation frequency and increase in depressive symptoms in older adults. Therefore, social media can be an effective tool to promote the integration of the older adults into society and alleviate negative emotions.

Indexed as

DepressionSocial MediaSocial ParticipationAgedAged, 80 and overChinaFemaleHumansLongitudinal StudiesMaleMiddle AgedDepressive symptomsDigital divideHealth managementOlder adultsSocial media useSocial participation

Identifiers

PMID41047381
PMCPMC12498433

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.