Video chats can prevent depression in older adults, finds study

The researchers found that people who used video chat functions such as Skype and FaceTime had almost half the estimated probability of depressive symptoms.

By: Editorial Team | | Published: November 20, 2018 5:15 pm

Tags: Depression in old age people Social Media

Older adults who used video chat technology such as Skype had a significantly lower risk of depression.©Shutterstock.

A new study has found that using video chatting platforms like Skype to connect with friends and family can stave off depression in older adults. According to the HT report, the researchers at Oregon Health & Science University in the US compared four different types of online communication technologies such as video chat, email, social networks and instant messaging used by people 60 and older. After that, they gauged their symptoms of depression based on survey responses two years later.

Alan Teo, associate professor at Oregon Health & Science University in the US reportedly said: “Video chat came out as the undisputed champion.”

Teo, lead author of the study published in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry reportedly said: “Older adults who used video chat technology such as Skype had a significantly lower risk of depression.”

From a 2012 survey, the researchers identified 1,424 participants who completed a set of questions about technology use. These same participants also responded to a follow-up survey two years later that measured, among other things, depressive symptoms.

Those who used email, instant messaging or social media platforms like Facebook had virtually the same rate of depressive symptoms compared with older adults who did not use any communication technologies.

In contrast, researchers found that people who used video chat functions such as Skype and FaceTime had almost half the estimated probability of depressive symptoms, after adjusting for other factors that could confound results, such as pre-existing depression and level of education.

Reportedly, the researchers said: “To our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate a potential link between use of video chat and prevention of clinically significant symptoms of depression over two years in older adults.”

Published: November 20, 2018 5:15 pm

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