METHODS: In total, 17,472 participants (≥ 45 years old) from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS, Wave 4, 2018) were analyzed. Cognitive performance including episodic memory and executive function was assessed using Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE). Other confounding variables included socio-economic characteristics, medical status, and lifestyle-related information. Multiple linear regression models were used to test the association between cognitive performance and WeChat usage by introducing covariates hierarchically. Subgroup analyses of age and gender were conducted to estimate the robustness of the primary findings.
RESULTS: After adjusting for multiple confounders across all linear models, WeChat usage is significantly associated with executive function, episodic memory, and global cognitive performance (all p values<0.05). Such results remained robust in subgroup analyses, stratified by age and gender, and also verified according to longitudinal analyses. Compared to \'Chat-only\' users who only used WeChat for online interpersonal communication, further usage of WeChat functions such as using \'Moments\' appeared to be significantly associated with better cognitive performance, especially for episodic memory.
CONCLUSIONS: Social media usage is significantly and positively associated with better cognitive performance among the middle-aged and older Chinese population. Along with point-to-point messaging, using \'Moments\' and extended social media platform functions may correlate to better cognitive performance.
方法:总共,来自中国健康与退休纵向研究的17,472名参与者(≥45岁)(CHARLS,第4波,2018)进行了分析。使用迷你精神状态检查(MMSE)评估认知表现,包括情景记忆和执行功能。其他混杂变量包括社会经济特征,医疗状况,和生活方式相关的信息。多元线性回归模型通过引入协变量来检验认知表现与微信使用之间的关联。进行年龄和性别的亚组分析以估计主要发现的稳健性。
结果:在调整了所有线性模型的多个混杂因素后,微信的使用与执行功能显著相关,情景记忆,和整体认知表现(所有p值<0.05)。这样的结果在亚组分析中仍然稳健,按年龄和性别分层,并根据纵向分析进行了验证。与只使用微信进行在线人际交往的“只聊天”用户相比,进一步使用微信功能,如使用“时刻”,似乎与更好的认知表现显著相关,尤其是对于情景记忆。
结论:在中国中老年人群中,社交媒体使用与更好的认知表现显著正相关。除了点对点消息传递之外,使用“时刻”和扩展的社交媒体平台功能可能与更好的认知表现相关。