Internet use and physical and mental health in old age during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from partners in SHARE
利用欧洲健康、老龄化和退休调查数据，研究65岁以上老年人在疫情前使用互联网是否影响疫情期间的身心健康，发现对抑郁的影响因年龄而异，且社交资本有助于弥合数字鸿沟。
Using data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), we investigate whether individuals aged 65 and older who were internet users prior to the COVID-19 pandemic experienced better physical and mental health, during the pandemic, than age peers who did not use the internet. We consider three health outcomes: self-reported health, overweight/obesity and depression. To account for household-shared determinants of health and reverse causality, we estimate household fixed effects regressions on samples of individuals grouped into households of cohabiting partners who exhibited identical pre-pandemic health outcomes. On average, our estimates point towards a non-significant effect of internet use on all health outcomes. The probability of depression varied by age: pre-pandemic internet users in the age-range 65-70 were more likely to experience depression, whereas those aged over 80 were less likely to be depressed, compared to internet nonusers in the same age-range. Moreover, we find that, among older pre-pandemic internet nonusers, those with stronger social ties had better access to remote medical consultations during the pandemic; this result suggests that social capital may play a protective role and may contribute to bridging the digital divide. We conclude that, although internet use holds significant potential benefits for older adults, its impact, particularly on mental health, is complex and multifaceted. Future interventions should be tailored to address these nuances, promoting beneficial uses of digital technology while mitigating its adverse effects. • Internet users aged 65–70 were more likely to be depressed during the pandemic. • Internet users aged 80+ were less likely to be depressed during the pandemic. • BMI and self-reported health were not significantly related to internet use. • Older internet nonusers with strong social ties had better access to telemedicine. • Household fixed effects estimators are suitable for outcomes during the pandemic.