The Association Between Posting WeChat Moments and the Risk of Depressive Symptoms Among Middle-Aged and Older Chinese Adults: Prospective National Cohort Study

Background: The association between social media usage and the risk of depressive symptoms has attracted increasing attention. WeChat is a popular social media software in China. The impact of using WeChat and posting WeChat moments on the risk of developing depressive symptoms among community-based middle-aged and older adults in China is unknown.

Objective: The objective was to assess the association between using WeChat and posting WeChat moments and the risk of depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older adults in China.

Methods: A prospective national cohort study was designed based on the data obtained from the fourth and fifth waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). The strength of association between using WeChat and posting WeChat moments and the risk of depressive symptoms was estimated by modified Poisson regressions. Depressive symptoms were determined using the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Meanwhile, the heterogeneity of the associations was explored through multiple subgroup analyses. Moreover, multiple sensitivity analyses were performed to verify the robustness of the associations between the exposures and depressive symptoms.

Results: A total of 9670 eligible participants were included in the cohort study, and the incidence rate of depressive symptoms was 19.08% (1845/9670, 95% CI 19.07%-19.09%) from the fourth to fifth waves of the CHARLS. Using WeChat (adjusted relative risk [aRR] 0.691, 95% CI 0.582-0.520) and posting WeChat moments (aRR 0.673, 95% CI 0.552-0.821) reduced the risk of depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older Chinese adults. The association between the exposures and depressive symptoms was robust, proved through multiple sensitivity analyses (all P<.05). However, the associations were heterogeneous in certain subgroup catagories, such as solitude, duration of sleep at night, nap after lunch, physical activity, and having multiple chronic conditions.

Conclusions: Using WeChat and especially posting WeChat moments can mitigate the risk of depressive symptoms among community-based middle-aged and older Chinese adults. However, there is likely a need for a longer follow-up period to explore the impact of the exposures on the risk of long-term depressive outcomes.