JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

A number of studies document the benefits of face-to-face social interactions for cognitive functioning among middle-aged and older adults. Social activities in virtual worlds may confer similar if not enhanced cognitive benefits as face-to-face social activities, given that virtual interactions require the additional cognitive tasks of learning and navigating communicative tools and technology platforms. Yet, few studies have examined whether social interactions in online settings may have synergistic effects on cognitive functioning beyond those of face-to-face interactions.

Objective:

This study examined whether online social activity participation is associated with concurrent and later cognitive functioning, after adjusting for face-to-face social activity participation and sociodemographic covariates.

Methods:

For cross-sectional analyses, we included 4,997 adults aged 50 and older who completed questions about social activity participation and cognitive tasks in 2020 of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), when information about online activity was first assessed. The longitudinal analyses included the 2,844 participants who also completed the 2022 follow-up cognitive assessments.

Results:

Regression analyses revealed that those with higher levels of online social activity participation had higher levels of concurrent cognitive functioning than those with low levels of online social activity participation, after adjusting for demographic, health-related factors and face-to-face social activity participation (p < .001). More online social activity participation also predicted better cognitive functioning two years later, even when adjusting for cognitive functioning at baseline and other covariates (p < .001).

Conclusions:

Findings suggest that greater engagement in online social activities is associated with high levels of current level and change in cognitive functioning across middle-aged and older adulthood.