The Impact of Online Social Support-Based Community Activities on the Mental Health of Older Adults

Objective: This study aims to examine the effects of an online community program, grounded in social support, on the cognitive function and depression levels of older adults.<br/><br/>Background: As Korea enters a super-aged society, dementia and depression among the elderly are becoming critical public health issues. Social support has been shown to alleviate depression and cognitive decline. However, most interventions remain offline and limited in accessibility. This study explores the potential of an online community-based approach to deliver consistent social support in a more accessible manner.<br/><br/>Method: A pre-post experimental design was conducted with 27 older adults (Exp = 14, Ctrl = 13). The experimental group participated in an 8-week online community program (16 sessions) incorporating gardening, conversation, plant cards, cooking, and social games. Measurements included the Cognitive Impairment Screening Test (CIST), Korean Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form (GDS-SF), Korean Online Social Support Scale (K-OSSS), and Korean Quality of Life Scale (K-CASP-16). User experience and in-depth interviews were also conducted.<br/><br/>Results: Statistically significant improvements were found in online social support levels for the experimental group compared to the control (p < .05), particularly in esteem/emotional support (p = .011). While cognitive function and depression did not show statistically significant group × time interaction, the experimental group exhibited notable improvement trends. User experience evaluations showed high satisfaction (M = 4.2/5), especially in emotional connection and convenience of participation.<br/><br/>Conclusion: The online social support-based program effectively enhanced emotional support among older adults, suggesting that online platforms can foster meaningful interaction, support, and psychological benefits. The program encouraged ongoing participation and relationship-building even after completion.<br/><br/>Application: This model provides a scalable, accessible intervention strategy for elderly well-being, particularly valuable where offline participation is limited due to physical, geographic, or health barriers.