The Double-Edged Sword of Short Video Use: Opposing Pathways to Depressive Symptoms in Middle-Aged and Older Adults
Jing R, Guo S, Tang J, Li L, Ding A
Cyberpsychology, behavior and social networking · 0 citations
How it was studied
- Design
- Cross-sectional study (classified by our AI screen)
- Studied in
- People
- Main outcome
- Health markers and function
Who paid for it
- Funding
- Independent funding
- Government
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- University or hospital
- Fundamental Research Funds for Central Universities of the Central South University
- Grants
- National Natural Science Foundation of China (72404274); Fundamental Research Funds for Central Universities of the Central South University (25XNKJ07)
Based on 2 listed funder(s).
Publication
- Published
- 2026-06-30 · Cyberpsychol Behav Soc Netw · vol. 29 · issue 8 · pp. 550–559
- Publisher
- Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
- Cited
- 0 citations · more than 60% of similar papers · 0.0× the field average
- References
- 34 works
- Access
- Paywalled
- Research areas
- Technology Use by Older Adults · Impact of Technology on Adolescents · Aging and Gerontology Research
- Keywords
- depressive symptoms, middle-aged and older adults, internet addiction, attitudes toward aging, urban-rural differences, old age
- MeSH
- humans, depression, behavior, addictive, aging, aged, middle aged, china, female, male, internet addiction disorder, digital media
5 authors
From CN
- Rize JingRenmin University of China
- Shengpeng GuoRenmin University of China
- Jia TangRenmin University of China
- Long Li · correspondingRenmin University of China
- Aiguo Ding · correspondingRenmin University of China
Abstract
The growing prevalence of short video platforms among middle-aged and older adults raises questions about their mental health implications. Using a national survey of 5,039 Chinese adults aged 50 years and above, this study examined how short video use relates to depressive symptoms through competing mechanisms using structural equation modeling. The results showed a dual-path pattern: Short video use was associated with fewer depressive symptoms via more positive attitudes toward aging, but also with increased symptoms via Internet addiction. Moderation analyses indicated that higher levels of Internet addiction were associated with a weaker protective cognitive pathway. Greater diversity in platform use was linked to higher addiction risk and reduced cognitive benefits, suggesting that fragmented engagement may correspond to less favorable psychosocial patterns. Urban-rural differences further indicated that these pathways are context-dependent. Overall, the findings highlight the importance of both behavioral patterns and usage structure in understanding the mental health effects of digital media in later life.
Abstract via Europe PMC. Copyright remains with the authors or publisher.
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