Are digital technologies an effective inhibitor of depression among middle-aged and older adults? Micro-level evidence from a panel study.

The increased number of middle-aged and older adults leads to depression in this stratum of the population as a topical social and public health issue. However, the new generation of information technologies has exerted a profound impact on the lives of middle-aged and older adults, and offers potential solutions for alleviating their depression. This study utilizes data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) collected between 2011 and 2018 and combines them with city-level traits.