scholarly journals Consuming information related to COVID-19 on social media among older adults and its associations with anxiety, social trust in information, and COVID-safe behaviours: Cross-Sectional Survey (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frankie Ho Chun Wong ◽  
Tianyin Liu ◽  
Dara Kiu Yi Leung ◽  
Yan A. Zhang ◽  
Walker Siu Hong Au ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Telephone Survey ◽  
Social Trust ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Anxiety Symptoms ◽  
Mediation Effect ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Media Usage ◽  
Related Information

BACKGROUND COVID-19-related information on social media is overabundant and sometimes questionable, resulting in an “infodemic” during the pandemic. While previous studies suggest social media usage increases the risk of developing anxiety symptoms, how induced anxiety affects attitudes and behaviours is less discussed in the literature, let alone during a global pandemic. Although older adults may not use digital media as extensively as younger adults, they use social media differently to address information needs. Little is known about the effect of using social media during a pandemic on their anxiety, social trust in information, and behaviours to avoid contracting COVID-19. OBJECTIVE To investigate the associations between using social media for COVID-19-related information and anxiety symptoms and the mediation effect of anxiety symptoms on social trust in information and COVID-safe behaviours among older adults. METHODS A cross-sectional telephone survey was conducted in Hong Kong between May and August 2020 among service recipients of local NGOs providing active aging activities or mental health services. A rapid warm-call protocol was developed to train social workers and volunteers from particpant NGOs to conduct the telephone survey that included questions related to COVID-safe behaviours, social trust in information, social media use, anxiety and depressive symptoms, and sociodemographic information. The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases at the community level was used to account for the risk of contracting COVID-19, which may prompt COVID-safe behaviours and affect social trust in information. OLS regressions examined the associations between social media use and anxiety symptoms, and how they were associated with social trust in information and COVID-safe behaviours. Structural equation modelling further mapped out these relationships to identify the mediation effects of anxiety symptoms. RESULTS This study collected information regarding 3421 adults aged 60 years and older. Use of social media for COVID-19-related information predicted more anxiety symptoms and lower social trust in information but had no significant relationship with COVID-safe behaviours. Anxiety symptoms predicted lower social trust in information and more COVID-safe behaviours. Lower social trust in information was predicted by social media usage, mediated by anxiety symptoms, while no mediation effect was found in COVID-safe behaviours. CONCLUSIONS Older adults who rely on social media for COVID-19-related information are exposed to a higher risk of anxiety if they, while showing mixed effects on attitudes and behaviours. Social trust in information may be challenged by unverified and contradictory information online. The negligible impact on COVID-safe behaviours suggested social media may have caused more confusion than consolidating a consistent effort against the pandemic. Media literacy education is recommended to mitigate the negative effects of social media usage, promote critical evaluation of it and responsible sharing among older adults.

scholarly journals Consuming Information Related to COVID-19 on Social Media Among Older Adults and Its Association With Anxiety, Social Trust in Information, and COVID-Safe Behaviors: Cross-sectional Telephone Survey

10.2196/26570 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. e26570
Author(s):  
Frankie Ho Chun Wong ◽  
Tianyin Liu ◽  
Dara Kiu Yi Leung ◽  
Anna Y Zhang ◽  
Walker Siu Hong Au ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Telephone Survey ◽  
Social Trust ◽  
Anxiety Symptoms ◽  
Mediation Effect ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Attitudes And Behaviors ◽  
Related Information ◽  
And Behaviors

Background COVID-19-related information on social media is overabundant and sometimes questionable, resulting in an “infodemic” during the pandemic. While previous studies suggest social media usage increases the risk of developing anxiety symptoms, how induced anxiety affects attitudes and behaviors is less discussed, let alone during a global pandemic. Little is known about the relationship between older adults using social media during a pandemic and their anxiety, their attitudes toward social trust in information, and behaviors to avoid contracting COVID-19. Objective The goal of this study was to investigate the associations between using social media for COVID-19-related information and anxiety symptoms as well as the mediation effect of anxiety symptoms on social trust in information and COVID-safe behaviors among older adults. Methods A cross-sectional telephone survey was conducted in Hong Kong between May and August 2020. A rapid warm-call protocol was developed to train social workers and volunteers from participant nongovernmental organizations to conduct the telephone surveys. Questions related to COVID-safe behaviors, social trust in information, social media use, anxiety and depressive symptoms, and sociodemographic information were asked. The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases at the community level was used to account for the risk of contracting COVID-19. Ordinary least squares regressions examined the associations between social media use and anxiety symptoms, and how they were associated with social trust in information and COVID-safe behaviors. Structural equation modeling further mapped out these relationships to identify the mediation effects of anxiety symptoms. Results This study collected information regarding 3421 adults aged 60 years and older. Use of social media for COVID-19-related information was associated with more anxiety symptoms and lower social trust in information but had no significant relationship with COVID-safe behaviors. Anxiety symptoms predicted lower social trust in information and higher COVID-safe behaviors. Lower social trust in information was predicted by using social media for COVID-19 information, mediated by anxiety symptoms, while no mediation effect was found for COVID-safe behaviors. Conclusions Older adults who rely on social media for COVID-19-related information exhibited more anxiety symptoms, while showing mixed effects on attitudes and behaviors. Social trust in information may be challenged by unverified and contradictory information online. The negligible impact on COVID-safe behaviors suggested that social media may have caused more confusion than consolidating a consistent effort against the pandemic. Media literacy education is recommended to promote critical evaluation of COVID-19-related information and responsible sharing among older adults.

The Moderating Role of Community Capacity for Age-Friendly Communication in Mitigating Anxiety of Older Adults During the COVID-19 Infodemic: Cross-Sectional Survey (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frankie Ho Chun Wong ◽  
Dara Kiu Yi Leung ◽  
Edwin Lok Yan Wong ◽  
Tianyin Liu ◽  
Shiyu Lu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Anxiety Symptoms ◽  
Community Capacity ◽  
Traditional Media ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
Cross Sectional

BACKGROUND Older adults were perceived as a vulnerable group under the COVID-19 pandemic due to the health and mental health challenges they faced. The pandemic was accompanied by an “infodemic” of overabundant and questionable information that has affected older adults’ mental health. As the infodemic and ageist narratives were prevalent online, more anxiety symptoms have been induced among older adults who used social media. Age-friendly communication, advocated by the World Health Organization’s age-friendly city guide, could be an antidote by providing tailored information via appropriate channels for older adults. OBJECTIVE This study investigated the role of community capacity for age-friendly communication in mitigating anxiety during the pandemic. We hypothesized that age-friendly communication would moderate the effects of infection risks and social media use on anxiety. A double moderating effect was hypothesized in the context of diminished trust in traditional media. METHODS Data were collected from a cross-sectional telephone survey conducted in Hong Kong in 2020. Older adults (age ≥ 60 years) were interviewed about their wellbeing and daily lives (N = 3421). Community capacity for age-friendly communication was measured in a living districts-based evaluation. It had two components: the reach of appropriate information to older adults (AFC-I) and the age-friendliness of communication technologies (AFC-C&D) in the community. We tested the hypothesized moderation and double moderation effects with ordinary least squares regressions. RESULTS Perceived COVID-19 infection risk (b = .002, P = .02) and use of social media for COVID-19 information (b = .08, P =.04) were associated with more anxiety symptoms. The effect of using social media was moderated by AFC-I (b = -.39, P = .002) and AFC-C&D (b = -1.06, P < .001), and the effect of perceived COVID-19 infection risk was moderated by AFC-I (b = -.03, P = .002) and AFC-C&D (b = -.05, P < .001). Lower trust in traditional media exacerbated anxiety symptoms associated with social media use (b = -.08, P = .02). Higher AFC-I alleviated this moderation effect (AFC-I*media trust b = -.65, P < .001; AFC-I*social media use b = -2.18, P <.001; three-way interaction b = .40, P = .003). CONCLUSIONS Our findings highlight the role of community age-friendly communication in mitigating anxiety related to the infodemic. Although using social media may have exacerbated the impact of the infodemic on older adults, it has the potential to deliver timely information for adequate health response. While the amplifying effects of low media trust was associated with social media use, age-friendly communication determined its strength. Instead of discouraging the use of digital technologies for COVID-19 information, efforts should be made in tailoring information and communication technologies in local communities for older adults.

scholarly journals The Influence of Social Media use on Practice of Covid-19 Preventive Measures Among Ethiopian Residents: An Online Cross-Sectional Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Abinet Arega Sadore ◽  
Demelash Woldeyohannes Handiso ◽  
Tekle Ejajo Wontamo ◽  
Dejene Ermias Mekango ◽  
Sisay Moges
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Risk Perception ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Preventive Practice ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Study Participants

Abstract Background: Infection with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has become a severe public health issue worldwide. A broad amount of information related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic was disseminated by social media in Ethiopia. To date, there is limited evidence on the influence of social media use for covid-19 related information on covid-19 preventive practice. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the influence of social media use on the practice of COVID-19 preventive measures in Ethiopia. Methods: This study employed an anonymous internet-based online cross-sectional survey using Google forms to collects the data from the respondents from 15 May to 17 June 2020 in Ethiopia. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between social media usage as a predictor and COVID-19 preventive practice, after adjusting for socio-demographic and risk perception of COVID-19 variables. The data were analysed using SPSS version 21. Results: A total of 372 respondents have participated in the study. From 372, 208(55.9%) respondents in this study were male. Study participants who had good utilization of social media to get COVID-19 related information were 9.5 times engaged in COVID-19 preventive practices compared to study participants who had poor utilization of social media to get covid-19 related information (AOR= 9.59, 95% CI = 5.70 - 16.13). Also, study participants who had a high-risk perception of COVID-19 were 2.6 times engaged in COVID-19 practices compared to study participants who had a low-risk perception of covid-19 (AOR = 2.63, 95% CI = 1.58 - 4.38). Study participants who were students at the time of this study were four times more likely to show adequate COVID-19 preventive practice score compared to those who had another occupational status (AOR= 4.07, 95% CI= 1.66 - 9.98) Conclusions: Our results show that the usage of social media networks can have a positive effect on the practice of preventive measures and public safety against COVID-19; high-risk perception contributed to preventive activities against COVID-19. Social networking platforms can be used by public health agencies as an important method to raise public health understanding by disseminating concise messages to targeted audiences.

Divergent effects of social media use on meaning in life via loneliness and existential isolation during the coronavirus pandemic

2022 ◽  
pp. 026540752110669
Author(s):  
Peter J. Helm ◽  
Tyler Jimenez ◽  
Madhwa S. Galgali ◽  
Megan E. Edwards ◽  
Kenneth E. Vail ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Media Use ◽  
The United States ◽  
Psychological Consequences ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Media Usage ◽  
Emotional Loneliness

Stay-at-home orders issued to combat the growing number of infections during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 had many psychological consequences for people including elevated stress, anxiety, and difficulty maintaining meaning in their lives. The present studies utilized cross-sectional designs and were conducted to better understand how social media usage related to people’s subjective isolation (i.e., social loneliness, emotional loneliness, and existential isolation) and meaning in life (MIL) during the early months of the pandemic within the United States. Study 1 found that general social media use indirectly predicted higher MIL via lower existential isolation and social isolation. Study 2 replicated these patterns and found that social media use also predicted lower MIL via higher emotional loneliness, and that the aforementioned effects occurred with active, but not passive, social media use. Findings suggest social media use may be a viable means to validate one’s experiences (i.e., reduce existential isolation) during the pandemic but may also lead to intensified feelings concerning missing others (i.e., increased emotional loneliness). This research also helps to identify potential divergent effects of social media on MIL and helps to clarify the relationships among varying types of subjective isolation.

scholarly journals Social Media Use, Addiction and Burnout Levels of Hospital Employees, Effective Factors: A Cross Sectional Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 34-41
Author(s):  
Kübra Yildiz Aydin ◽  
Neriman Aydin ◽  
Birgül Özçirpici
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Never Married ◽  
Media Usage ◽  
Social Media Addiction ◽  
Hospital Employees

Background: As years passes by, the usage of social media has become an important public health issue. It is known that problematic social media use is related with health problems. With this study, it is aimed to determine the social media use of hospital employees, the relation between social media addiction and burnout levels and to determine effective factors.                                                                                                                 Methods: Target population of the cross-sectional study consists of 2627 person between the ages of 18-60 who is working at a university hospital. Minimum sample size was calculated as 321 and reached up to 323 people. Question form, Burnout Scale and Social Media Addiction Adult Form were applied by interviewing the employees face-to-face between the months of March-April 2019. Results: 80.2% of the participants use social media every day, 63.1% of them use social media mostly at evenings. 94.8% of people mostly connect to social media with their phone. Average time spent daily on social media is 91, 33±87, 89 minutes. Daily social media use is significantly higher in women, university graduates, nurses. There is a significant difference between age groups and between married and never married in terms of average time spent daily on social media. Social media addiction scale score is significantly higher in women, never married persons and in the age group 20-29. Weak correlation was determined between scores of social media addiction scale and burnout levels, and age and time spent on social media.                                                                                                                                         Conclusions: It is determined that social media usage in hospital employees is higher than Turkey’s average and there is a positive relation between scores of social media addiction scale and burnout levels. Providing education to employees in order to reduce social media usage, hanging posters related with how over-usage of social media may lead to burnout.

scholarly journals Measurement Invariance of Social Media Use in Younger and Older Adults and Links to Socioemotional Health

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neika Sharifian ◽  
A Zarina Kraal ◽  
Afsara B Zaheed ◽  
Ketlyne Sol ◽  
Emily P Morris ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Measurement Invariance ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Media Usage ◽  
Socioemotional Health

Abstract Background and Objectives Social media use has been linked to socioemotional health; however, less is known regarding whether these associations are moderated by age. Additionally, as the use of social media in older adult populations is rapidly increasing, there is a greater need for the investigation of psychometric properties of social media usage scales before determining age differences in the impact of social media on socioemotional health outcomes. Research Design and Methods Using an online adult lifespan sample (n=592), the current cross-sectional study tested the measurement invariance of the general social media usage subscale of the Media and Technology Usage and Attitudes Scale across younger (aged 19-54) versus older (aged 55-81) adults and whether age moderated associations between social media use and socioemotional health (depressive symptoms, self-esteem, envy). Results Confirmatory factor analyses revealed that posting-related and checking-related items were noninvariant across age groups. In multi-group structural equation models accounting for differential item functioning, higher social media use was associated with more depressive symptoms in younger adults, but not in older adults. While higher social media use was associated with higher envy in both age groups, this association was stronger in younger adults. Discussion and Implications Findings suggest younger adults may be more susceptible to the detrimental effects of social media use on socioemotional health. Future directions regarding the measurement of social media use and the salience of social media use across the lifespan are discussed.

scholarly journals Intensitas Penggunaan Media Sosial, Kebiasaan Olahraga, dan Obesitas Pada Remaja Di SMA Negeri 6 Surabaya Tahun 2019

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 142
Author(s):  
Fransiska Sabatini Setiawati ◽  
Trias Mahmudiono ◽  
Nadia Ramadhani ◽  
Khairina Fadiah Hidayati
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
High School ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Nutritional Status ◽  
Random Sampling ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Exercise Habits ◽  
Media Usage ◽  
Cluster Random Sampling

Background: Physical activity is the external factors which has a siginficant corellation with obesity among adolecscents.The prevalence of obese adolescents in Indonesia has increased from 2013-2018. Sedentary lifestyle tends to expand largely in a high-tech society.  The amount of time spent for social media usage has decreased their ability to do physical activity. Objectives: The research purpose to analyze corelation between intensity of social media usage and sport habits Senior High School 6 Surabaya students.Methods: The study was analytic observation with cross sectional study design. The population were students in 10th and 11th grade in Senior High School 6 Surabaya in total 614 people. Sample as determined by cluster random sampling and 133 sample were chosen. The data collected include the characteristic of sample sport habist and social media intensity usage through administered questionnaire, and nutritional status based on BMI/Age calculation in WHO Antro 2005. Data was analyzed by Spearman test.Results: Most of students have low level in sport habits (52.6%), while the intensity of social media use was high (57.1%). There were respondents with overweight (21.1%) and underweight (6.8%), although the most of them had normal nutritional status (72.2%). There was significant relationship between social media intensity usage and sport habits among students in SMAN 6 Surabaya (p<0.001) with (r=-0.608) this showed that the higher the intensity of the usde of social media, the lower the exercise habits in adolescents.Conclusions: The high intensity of social media use is related to the low exercise habits of students of SMAN 6 SurabayaABSTRAK Latar Belakang: Aktivitas fisik merupakan faktor eksternal terbesar penyebab obesitas pada remaja. Prevalensi remaja gemuk di Indonesia mengalami peningkatan dari tahun 2013-2018.  Gaya hidup kurang gerak cenderung terus meluas dalam masyarakat berteknologi maju. Peningkatan penggunaan media sosial, telah mengurangi jumlah waktu remaja untuk berolahraga.Tujuan: Menganalisis hubungan antara intensitas penggunaan media sosial dan kebiasaan olahraga serta kaitannya dengan obesitas pada siswa/i SMAN 6 Surabaya.Metode: Desain penelitian ini adalah cross sectional. Populasi penelitian adalah seluruh siswa/i kelas X dan XI SMAN 6 Surabaya sebanyak 614 orang. Sampel penelitian sebanyak 133 siswa/i yang dipilih dengan menggunakan cluster random sampling berdasarkan kelompok kelas X dan XI di SMAN 6 Surabaya. Data pada penelitian ini meliputi data karakteristik responden, kebiasaan olahraga dan intensitas penggunaan media sosial menggunakan kuesioner, serta status gizi berdasarkan pengukuran IMT/U sesuai standar World Health Organization (WHO) tahun 2005. Data dianalisis menggunakan uji korelasi Spearman.Hasil: Sebagian besar responden memiliki kebiasaan olahraga yang tergolong rendah (52,6%) sedangkan, intensitas penggunaan media sosial tergolong tinggi (57,1%). Terdapat responden yang memiliki status gizi lebih (21,1%) dan kurang (6,8%) meskipun, sebagian besar dari mereka memiliki status gizi normal (72,2%). Ada hubungan yang signifikan antara intensitas penggunaan media sosial dengan kebiasaan olahraga (p=0,000) dengan (r=-0,475) semakin tinggi intensitas penggunaan media sosial maka semakin rendah kebiasaan olahraga pada remaja.Kesimpulan: Tingginya intensitas penggunaan media sosial berhubungan dengan rendahnya kebiasaan olahraga pada siswa/i SMAN 6 Surabaya.. 

scholarly journals Loneliness and Its Association With Social Media Use During the COVID-19 Outbreak

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 205630512110338
Author(s):  
Tore Bonsaksen ◽  
Mary Ruffolo ◽  
Janni Leung ◽  
Daicia Price ◽  
Hilde Thygesen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
The United States ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Social And Emotional ◽  
Emotional Loneliness ◽  
Social Loneliness

Social distancing rules during the COVID-19 pandemic changed social interaction for many and increased the risk of loneliness in the general population. Social media use has been ambiguously related to loneliness, and associations may differ by age. The study aimed to examine loneliness and its association with social media use within different age groups during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in Norway, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia during April/May 2020, and 3,810 participants aged 18 years or above were recruited. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine associations between social media use and social and emotional loneliness within separate age groups. Emotional loneliness was higher among young adults and among those who used social media several times daily. Adjusting by sociodemographic variables, using more types of social media was associated with lower social loneliness among the oldest participants, and with higher emotional loneliness among the youngest participants. Among middle-aged participants, using social media more frequently was associated with lower social loneliness. We found that the associations between social media use and loneliness varied by age. Older people’s engagement on social media may be a resource to reduce loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic. We observed higher levels of loneliness among high-frequent social media users of younger age.

scholarly journals Changes in Tobacco Use Patterns during COVID-19 and Their Correlates among Older Adults in Bangladesh

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 1779
Author(s):  
Sabuj Kanti Mistry ◽  
Armm Mehrab Ali ◽  
Md. Ashfikur Rahman ◽  
Uday Narayan Yadav ◽  
Bhawna Gupta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Tobacco Use ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Use Patterns ◽  
Telephone Interviews ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Structured Questionnaire

The present study explored the changes in tobacco use patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic and their correlates among older adults in Bangladesh. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 1032 older adults aged ≥60 years in Bangladesh through telephone interviews in October 2020. Participants’ characteristics and COVID-19-related information were gathered using a pretested semi-structured questionnaire. Participants were asked if they noted any change in their tobacco use patterns (smoking or smokeless tobacco) during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to pre-pandemic (6 months prior to the survey). Nearly half of the participants (45.6%) were current tobacco users, of whom 15.9% reported increased tobacco use during the COVID-19 pandemic and all others had no change in their tobacco use patterns. Tobacco use was significantly increased among the participants from rural areas, who had reduced communications during COVID-19 compared to pre-pandemic (OR = 2.76, 95%CI:1.51–5.03). Participants who were aged ≥70 years (OR = 0.33, 95% CI: 0.14–0.77), widowed (OR = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.13–1.00), had pre-existing, non-communicable, and/or chronic conditions (OR = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.25–0.78), and felt themselves at the highest risk of COVID-19 (OR = 0.31, 95% CI: 0.15–0.62), had significantly lower odds of increased tobacco use. Policy makers and practitioners need to focus on strengthening awareness and raising initiatives to avoid tobacco use during such a crisis period.

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