網路使用與年長者之憂鬱及幸福感之相關性探討－－以中部社區據點為例

Internet Use Improvement of Depression and Wellbeing in a Community of Elderly People in Central T

隨著數位科技的發展，網際網路的使用與普及性，年長者對於科技的接受度與使用度卻少有研究探討。因此本研究目的以中部地區為例，探討年長者的社群網路使用情形，並進一步探討年長者的網際網路使用情形與其心理健康之相關性。本研究於通過人體試驗委員會審查後，研究團隊人員進入中部地區數個社區據點，邀請年長者們進行問卷填寫，包括:網際網路使用問卷、老人憂鬱量表以及幸福感量表等。研究期間共收集89筆有效樣本，問卷填寫者之平均年齡為74.90歲(標準差為8.32歲)。研究結果發現，年長者以「通訊」為社群網路使用的主要目的，且使用的頻率與其教育程度達顯著正相關。此外，老人心理健康受到家庭結構的影響，家庭支持度越高者，其老人憂鬱程度較低，社會幸福感較高。年長者對於當前快速發展的網路使用接受度與其教育程度相關，多數年長者以使用通訊軟體為主，如傳遞或轉傳網路訊息予家人朋友、與家人(子孫)視訊之用。另一方面，數位科技的使用也許因為促進年長者人際網絡的連結，提升其人際關係，並減少老年憂鬱，進一步提升其幸福感。

Taiwan has become an aging society. Loneliness has been reported as a risk factor for geriatric depression. While internet technology has developed dramatically and has become popular among younger middle-aged adults, it is unclear whether its use would improve the interpersonal relationships and decrease loneliness among the elderly. Thus, in this study, we investigated the correlation between internet use and geriatric depression and wellbeing among the elderly in the community. A total of 89 participants with a mean age of 74.90 (SD=8.32) were recruited. All the participants were screened using the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) to exclude those who may be at risk of dementia. The participants were then invited to complete the following questionnaires: internet use questionnaire, geriatric depression scale and wellbeing questionnaire. We found the main reason elderly people used the internet was to communicate with others. We also found a positive correlation between internet use and educational level and a negative correlation between internet use and geriatric depression. We concluded that internet use may be help the elderly develop interpersonal networks and that developing interpersonal connection may play an important role in decreasing geriatric depression and increasing wellbeing.