New research suggests that the use of the internet on a regular basis is linked to better mental health in older people.

Conducted by researchers at University College London (UCL), the study looked at the behaviour of more than 9,000 people over the age of 50 across the span of six years. It found that those who used the internet daily had a higher life satisfaction than those who did not. Also, the positive impact on mental wellbeing was most notable among those using the internet to communicate with others. 

The research also indicated that the wealthiest users were the most likely to go online daily and those in the higher educational and occupational groups experienced a larger positive impact on their mental health.

To help address these concerns, Jivraj suggested initiatives such as installing public Wi-Fi in areas frequented by older people and in areas where usage may be low, due to barriers to access and digital exclusion, could be among possible solutions. 

Co-author Dr Shaun Scholes urged the Government to create more schemes for older people to learn digital skills. “It’s important to recognise that many older people have not learnt to use the internet as part of their job or education,” he said.

“While there isn’t one simple intervention that can increase internet usage in older age, we do recommend that policymakers encourage providers to consider adapting their products and interfaces to be more age-friendly.”