How Internet use relates to mental health in older adults: findings from the Czech Republic and the Republic of Slovenia.

Objectives: Older adults face challenges in digital engagement, which may be linked to mental health. This study examines associations between Internet use and mental health indicators-depression, loneliness, and well-being-among older adults in the Czech Republic and the Republic of Slovenia, using data from the SHARE Wave 8 survey. Methods: A sample of 5,201 adults aged 50 + (2,706 Czech, 2,495 Slovenian) was analyzed. Internet use in the past 7 days was the dependent variable. Depression (EURO-D), loneliness (Three-Item Scale), and well-being (CASP-12) served as key independent variables. Binary logistic regression was used, controlling for age, gender, education, and partnership status. To address missing data and enhance analytical robustness, a 1-to-many imputation approach was applied. Results: Internet use was positively associated with higher well-being and negatively associated with depression and loneliness in both countries. These associations were stronger in the Republic of Slovenia as compared to the Czech Republic. Age and education were the most significant control variables. Women and individuals living alone in the Republic of Slovenia were less likely to use the Internet. Conclusion: The findings indicate that mental health is significantly associated with Internet use in both countries, though to different degrees, suggesting that national context moderates the relationship between mental health factors and digital engagement. Nonetheless, the binary measure of Internet use represents a limitation, as it does not capture frequency, intensity, or type of online activity. Interventions promoting digital literacy-particularly among older adults with poorer mental health-could enhance digital inclusion and well-being in aging populations.