Psychological Effect of Media Use on Mental Health of Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Objectives: Low media literacy and exposure to media-produced content during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic can affect the health of people in the community. This study aims to investigate the psychological effects of media use on the mental health of community-dwelling older adults. Methods & Materials: In this descriptive-analytical study with a cross-sectional design, 200 elderly people aged ≥60 years participated who were selected from daycare rehabilitation centers and retirement centers in Kerman, Iran in 2020 using a convenience sampling method. Data were collected using a demographic form (Surveying age, gender, education, occupation, marital status, income, and media use), and the 12-item General Health Questionnaire. Results: The mean age of participants was 66.60 ± 5.08 years. More than three-quarters of them were following the latest COVID-19 news via media (Local radio and television). Most of them (77.4%) had poor mental health status. Higher educational level (P<0.001), employment (p=0.003), and low frequency of media use (P<0.001) were the protective factors against poor mental health. High-frequency media use was a risk factor for the mental health of older adults during the COVID-19 outbreak. Conclusion: The mental health of community-dwelling older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic is affected by media use and its frequency. It is recommended that older adults should avoid following the latest COVID-19 news, especially those from unreliable sources. Moreover, media managers should have more control over the news related to the COVID-19.