Digital and Social Inclusion as Determinants of Emotional Well-Being in Older Europeans

Abstract Background As populations age across Europe, ensuring emotional well-being in later life has become a pressing public health priority. While social isolation and depressive symptoms are prevalent in older adults, digital engagement and social integration may act as protective factors. This study examines how internet use and social connectedness relate to emotional well-being-measured through loneliness and depressive symptoms-among Europeans aged 50+. Methods We used data from wave 9 of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), comprising over 68,000 individuals aged 65 or older across 28 countries. Emotional well-being was assessed via the EURO-D depression scale and a binary indicator of self-reported loneliness. We estimated age-stratified logistic regression models (65-70, 71-80, and 80+ years), including as key predictors recent internet use and level of social integration, while adjusting for gender, income, multimorbidity, and other sociodemographic characteristics. Results Recent internet use and higher social integration were significantly associated with lower odds of both depression and loneliness across all age groups. Not using the internet increased the odds of depressive symptoms by 16-55% and loneliness by 15-26%, depending on age. The effects of social integration were even stronger: individuals in the highest integration group were up to 67% less likely to report feeling lonely. These associations remained robust after adjusting for income and chronic health conditions. Conclusions Digital and social inclusion are key determinants of emotional well-being in later life. Public health policies should prioritize reducing the digital divide and fostering meaningful social networks among older adults. Promoting digital literacy and strengthening community engagement can help combat emotional distress, particularly among the oldest old. Key messages • Internet use and social integration are strongly associated with lower levels of depression and loneliness in older adults. • Reducing the digital divide and strengthening social networks should be public health priorities for active and emotionally healthy ageing.