The Association Between Posting WeChat Moments and the Risk of Depressive Symptoms Among Middle-Aged and Older Chinese Adults: Prospective National Cohort Study
Abstract BackgroundThe association between social media usage and the risk of depressive symptoms has attracted increasing attention. WeChat is a popular social media software in China. The impact of using WeChat and posting WeChat moments on the risk of developing depressive...
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JMIR Publications
2025-01-01
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| Series: | JMIR Public Health and Surveillance |
| Online Access: | https://publichealth.jmir.org/2025/1/e62730 |
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| author | Wei Wang Hui Wang Xinru Hu Qian Yu Fangyi Chen Xirui Qiu Xiaoxiao Wang |
| author_facet | Wei Wang Hui Wang Xinru Hu Qian Yu Fangyi Chen Xirui Qiu Xiaoxiao Wang |
| author_sort | Wei Wang |
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Abstract
BackgroundThe association between social media usage and the risk of depressive symptoms has attracted increasing attention. WeChat is a popular social media software in China. The impact of using WeChat and posting WeChat moments on the risk of developing depressive symptoms among community-based middle-aged and older adults in China is unknown.
ObjectiveThe objective was to assess the association between using WeChat and posting WeChat moments and the risk of depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older adults in China.
MethodsA prospective national cohort study was designed based on the data obtained from the fourth and fifth waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). The strength of association between using WeChat and posting WeChat moments and the risk of depressive symptoms was estimated by modified Poisson regressions. Depressive symptoms were determined using the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Meanwhile, the heterogeneity of the associations was explored through multiple subgroup analyses. Moreover, multiple sensitivity analyses were performed to verify the robustness of the associations between the exposures and depressive symptoms.
ResultsA total of 9670 eligible participants were included in the cohort study, and the incidence rate of depressive symptoms was 19.08% (1845/9670, 95% CI 19.07%‐19.09%) from the fourth to fifth waves of the CHARLS. Using WeChat (adjusted relative risk [aRR] 0.691, 95% CI 0.582‐0.520) and posting WeChat moments (aRR 0.673, 95% CI 0.552‐0.821) reduced the risk of depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older Chinese adults. The association between the exposures and depressive symptoms was robust, proved through multiple sensitivity analyses (all P
ConclusionsUsing WeChat and especially posting WeChat moments can mitigate the risk of depressive symptoms among community-based middle-aged and older Chinese adults. However, there is likely a need for a longer follow-up period to explore the impact of the exposures on the risk of long-term depressive outcomes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4acc0c53225249fa9aa8d519906e37cf |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2369-2960 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
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| series | JMIR Public Health and Surveillance |
| spelling | doaj-art-4acc0c53225249fa9aa8d519906e37cf2025-01-20T15:36:46ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Public Health and Surveillance2369-29602025-01-0111e62730e6273010.2196/62730The Association Between Posting WeChat Moments and the Risk of Depressive Symptoms Among Middle-Aged and Older Chinese Adults: Prospective National Cohort StudyWei Wanghttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-7698-2499Hui Wanghttp://orcid.org/0009-0007-6709-766XXinru Huhttp://orcid.org/0009-0003-9558-7341Qian Yuhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-9572-4188Fangyi Chenhttp://orcid.org/0009-0004-0528-3457Xirui Qiuhttp://orcid.org/0000-0003-0226-9970Xiaoxiao Wanghttp://orcid.org/0000-0003-0477-4794 Abstract BackgroundThe association between social media usage and the risk of depressive symptoms has attracted increasing attention. WeChat is a popular social media software in China. The impact of using WeChat and posting WeChat moments on the risk of developing depressive symptoms among community-based middle-aged and older adults in China is unknown. ObjectiveThe objective was to assess the association between using WeChat and posting WeChat moments and the risk of depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older adults in China. MethodsA prospective national cohort study was designed based on the data obtained from the fourth and fifth waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). The strength of association between using WeChat and posting WeChat moments and the risk of depressive symptoms was estimated by modified Poisson regressions. Depressive symptoms were determined using the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Meanwhile, the heterogeneity of the associations was explored through multiple subgroup analyses. Moreover, multiple sensitivity analyses were performed to verify the robustness of the associations between the exposures and depressive symptoms. ResultsA total of 9670 eligible participants were included in the cohort study, and the incidence rate of depressive symptoms was 19.08% (1845/9670, 95% CI 19.07%‐19.09%) from the fourth to fifth waves of the CHARLS. Using WeChat (adjusted relative risk [aRR] 0.691, 95% CI 0.582‐0.520) and posting WeChat moments (aRR 0.673, 95% CI 0.552‐0.821) reduced the risk of depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older Chinese adults. The association between the exposures and depressive symptoms was robust, proved through multiple sensitivity analyses (all P ConclusionsUsing WeChat and especially posting WeChat moments can mitigate the risk of depressive symptoms among community-based middle-aged and older Chinese adults. However, there is likely a need for a longer follow-up period to explore the impact of the exposures on the risk of long-term depressive outcomes.https://publichealth.jmir.org/2025/1/e62730 |
| spellingShingle | Wei Wang Hui Wang Xinru Hu Qian Yu Fangyi Chen Xirui Qiu Xiaoxiao Wang The Association Between Posting WeChat Moments and the Risk of Depressive Symptoms Among Middle-Aged and Older Chinese Adults: Prospective National Cohort Study JMIR Public Health and Surveillance |
| title | The Association Between Posting WeChat Moments and the Risk of Depressive Symptoms Among Middle-Aged and Older Chinese Adults: Prospective National Cohort Study |
| title_full | The Association Between Posting WeChat Moments and the Risk of Depressive Symptoms Among Middle-Aged and Older Chinese Adults: Prospective National Cohort Study |
| title_fullStr | The Association Between Posting WeChat Moments and the Risk of Depressive Symptoms Among Middle-Aged and Older Chinese Adults: Prospective National Cohort Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Association Between Posting WeChat Moments and the Risk of Depressive Symptoms Among Middle-Aged and Older Chinese Adults: Prospective National Cohort Study |
| title_short | The Association Between Posting WeChat Moments and the Risk of Depressive Symptoms Among Middle-Aged and Older Chinese Adults: Prospective National Cohort Study |
| title_sort | association between posting wechat moments and the risk of depressive symptoms among middle aged and older chinese adults prospective national cohort study |
| url | https://publichealth.jmir.org/2025/1/e62730 |
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