Depression can come on completely out of the blue for some of us and for others, it has a more direct link to what’s going on in our lives at that time. Many elderly patients who are experiencing severe pain are also diagnosed with depression. This can be caused by several factors, including mobility issues as a result of the pain, which can lead to a diminishing of independence for the patient and a lower quality of life.
A group of researchers in the United States became interested in the conditions surrounding the development of depression in accordance with severe pain and performed a study to determine if increased social interaction through the internet may improve these symptoms. There is a large base of research evidence that shows that social interaction can improve both depression and physical symptoms a patient might be experiencing. The research team behind this study also used data gathered from annual surveys, which states that while the majority of elderly people engage in at least three social activities per month, only 17 percent use social media networks to connect via the internet, to determine the basis for their study.
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The study participants included 3,401 adults 67 years of age or older who lived in a community environment and not in a caregiving facility. About one-third of the participants reported living alone. The participants were divided into a control group, those without severe pain, and an experimental group. About 54 percent of the participants described their pain as inconveniencing in the month prior to the outset of the study. Those in the experimental group were asked to integrate social media use into their regular socializing routine.
Lower Depression Rates with Social Media Use
The results of the study showed that depression rates decreased in the group incorporating social media into their lives. Only 6 percent of these participants reported feelings of depression, compared to 15 percent in the control group.
“Using online social media to maintain contact with family members and friends is a good way to compensate for seniors who restrict their social activities due to pain. It is not going to replace seeing people in person, but it will help supplement their reduced activities,” said study co-author Shannon Ang. “For us, this study is about preserving mental health.”
One of the weaknesses of this study is that information on which social platforms were used and how the participants were instructed to use them were not provided. According to the researchers, these details will be muddled through in future studied, which will focus on the best recommendations for the type of social media and length of time for which it should be used.
For now, those who enjoy being social and seeing what others are up to may find social media to be a blessing if their social interactions have become limited in their elderly years.
Also read:
- Effective Yoga Poses for Brainpower
- Diet for Depression: What Foods Lower Depression Symptoms?
- Physical Side Effects of Depression on Your Body
Mohan Garikiparithi got his degree in medicine from Osmania University (University of Health Sciences). He practiced clinical medicine for over a decade before he shifted his focus to the field of health communications. During his active practice he served as the head of the Dept. of Microbiology in a diagnostic centre in India. On a three-year communications program in Germany, Mohan developed a keen interest in German Medicine (Homoeopathy), and other alternative systems of medicine. He now advocates treating different medical conditions without the use of traditional drugs. An ardent squash player, Mohan believes in the importance of fitness and wellness.
