JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

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.