The Association of Community Rates of Internet Use, Depression, and Living Alone in Massachusetts - Abstract

Q: What does the study investigate in Massachusetts communities?

It examines the relationship between community rates of internet use, depression, and the proportion of older adults living alone.

Q: Which datasets were used to measure internet use and depression?

Internet use came from BRFSS data (2018–2022), living alone proportions from the American Community Survey (2018–2022), and depression diagnoses from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services data (2020–2021).

Q: How are internet use and depression related in the study’s regression results?

Community internet use shows a significant negative association with depression among older adults, and this remains significant after adjusting for gender distribution and educational attainment.

Q: Does the association differ by levels of older adults living alone?

Yes. The relationship is significant only in communities with a higher-than-average proportion of older adults living alone and not in communities with lower proportions.

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by Bintang

This study evaluates how community-level internet use relates to depression and the share of older adults living alone across 367 Massachusetts communities. Data combine Healthy Aging Data Reports with BRFSS-based internet use (2018–2022), American Community Survey estimates of living alone (2018–2022), and depression diagnoses from CMS data (2020–2021). Depression prevalence ranged from 21.90% to 54.46%, and internet use from 40.83% to 88.95%. Regression analyses showed a significant negative association overall and only among communities with higher-than-average proportions living alone, suggesting internet use may help reduce depression where social isolation is greatest.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

Study purpose

Data sources and key measures

Findings and regression results

Implications for older adults living alone

800 Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 Abstract citation ID: igaf122.2716 THE ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY RATES OF INTERNET USE, DEPRESSION, AND LIVING ALONE IN MASSACHUSETTS Mengshi Liu, Dongfang Hong, Michelle Ward, Qinglin Gao, and Elizabeth Dugan, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, United States The negative health consequences of social isolation are increasingly recognized, and internet use is often cited as a potential intervention to enhance social connectivity, particularly for at-risk older adults. This study examines the relationship between internet use, depression, and the proportion of older adults living alone across 367 communities in Massachusetts (MA). Data were drawn from the 2025 Massachusetts Healthy Aging Data Reports ([healthyagingdatareports.org](healthyagingdatareports.org)). Internet use in the past month was derived from BRFSS data (2018–2022), the percentage of older adults living alone was obtained from the American Community Survey (2018–2022), and depression diagnoses were sourced from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services data (2020–2021) . Across MA, the prevalence of depression ranged from 21.90% to 54.46%(state average: 34.64%), while internet Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 801 use varied from 40.83% to 88.95%(state average: 70.57%) . Regression analyses showed a significant negative association between community rates of internet use and depression among older adults in MA (β = -0.10, p < .000), which remained significant after adjusting for gender distribution and educational attainment. However, when stratified by the proportion of older adults living alone, this relationship was only significant in communities with a higher-than-average proportion of older adults living alone (β = -0.11, p < .001), while no significant association was observed in communities with lower proportions. These findings suggest that internet use may be particularly beneficial in reducing community rates of depression among older adults experiencing greater social isolation, highlighting its potential asa mental health resource for those living alone.

FAQs

What does the study investigate in Massachusetts communities?

It examines the relationship between community rates of internet use, depression, and the proportion of older adults living alone.

Which datasets were used to measure internet use and depression?

Internet use came from BRFSS data (2018–2022), living alone proportions from the American Community Survey (2018–2022), and depression diagnoses from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services data (2020–2021).

How are internet use and depression related in the study’s regression results?

Community internet use shows a significant negative association with depression among older adults, and this remains significant after adjusting for gender distribution and educational attainment.

Does the association differ by levels of older adults living alone?

Yes. The relationship is significant only in communities with a higher-than-average proportion of older adults living alone and not in communities with lower proportions.

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by Bintang