With the rapid advancement of information technology, the link between internet use and older adults' mental health has drawn increasing attention. However, little research has examined the active engagement in internet use in later life. The present study distinguished between generative and receptive internet use among older adults. Using data from the 2018, 2020, and 2023 waves of the China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (N = 5,553; Mage = 67.40, SDage = 4.76; 50% female), we examined the developmental trajectories of these two types of internet use and their bidirectional associations with depressive symptoms and cognitive function.
Latent growth modeling indicated a linear upward trend in receptive internet use, whereas generative internet use showed a nonlinear growth pattern characterized by a decelerating increase over time. Cross-lagged panel analyses revealed that, after adjusting for demographic variables, receptive internet use and depressive symptoms predicted each other over time. Depressive symptoms predicted subsequent generative internet use, but not vice versa. Neither type of internet use showed significant bidirectional associations with cognitive function.
These findings highlight the distinct roles of generative and receptive internet use in older adults' mental health. Internet use appears to provide protective and promotive effects for emotional well-being but has limited influence on cognitive health. In turn, older adults' emotional health shapes their subsequent internet engagement. These findings provide insights for developing targeted strategies to guide internet use and promote well-being in later life.