Social networking site use and psychological well-being in older adults
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Date
2026-04-14
Authors
O'Carroll, Aoife
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University College Cork
Published Version
Abstract
Older adulthood is often accompanied by life changes such as retirement, bereavement, and declines in health or mobility, which may increase the risk of social isolation and reduced psychological wellbeing (PWB). Social networking sites (SNSs) have the potential to support social connectedness in later life, yet evidence regarding their association with PWB remains mixed. This thesis presents two studies examining how different patterns of SNS engagement relate to PWB in older adults, taking into account individual and social factors. Study 1 comprised a search of five databases (PsychInfo, Web of Science, Medline, International Bibliography of Social Sciences and EBSCO Psychology Databases) to identify studies examining active or passive SNS use and PWB in middle-aged and older adults. The review revealed mixed findings, with both positive and negative associations reported across studies. The association of SNS use on PWB appeared to vary according to cultural, demographic, and contextual factors suggesting that SNS engagement does not have uniform consequences in later life. The evidence base was dominated by cross-sectional designs, limiting causal inference regarding the relationship between SNS use and PWB.
Study 2 employed a mixed-methods design to examine SNS use and PWB in a sample of older adults. Survey data from 101 participants assessed SNS use, perceived social support, shyness, and psychological wellbeing while in-depth interviews with 11 participants explored lived experiences of SNS engagement. Quantitative data were analysed using hierarchical multiple regression, and qualitative data using reflexive thematic analysis. Quantitative analyses showed that SNS use did not directly predict wellbeing; however, both close-tie and weak-tie SNS use were indirectly associated with PWB through perceived social support. Shyness moderated the association between weak-tie SNS use and wellbeing, with higher shyness linked to poorer PWB outcomes. Qualitative findings provided contextual insight into these patterns, illustrating how older adults used SNSs to maintain close relationships, exchange emotional support, engage with shared interests, and reflect nostalgically, while also selectively managing exposure to negative online experiences. Together, these studies suggest that SNS is associated with PWB in later life but this may be linked to the quality of online interactions, the social support they facilitate, and individual differences such as shyness. Older adults appear to engage with SNSs in purposeful and emotionally selective ways, using them to complement rather than replace offline social relationships. Addressing barriers such as low digital confidence and negative online experiences may help maximise the potential PWB benefits of SNS engagement in older adulthood.
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Keywords
Older adults , Social network use , Active and passive use , Psychological wellbeing , Socioemotional selectivity theory , Perceived social support , Shyness
Citation
O'Carroll, A. 2026. Social networking site use and psychological well-being in older adults. DClinPsych Thesis, University College Cork.