Use of Online Social Networks and Mental Health at maturity during the Covid-19 pandemic

The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of the use and non-use of online social networks on the mental health of Brazilians aged 50 years and over during the emergence of the Covid-19 polydemic in Brazil. 571 people participated, aged between 50 and 88 years (M=58.83; SD=6.74), 78.5% of whom were female. = 237) was composed of elderly people (over 60 years old). Regarding the use of online social networks (RSO), 93% of the participants stated that they used these tools. As instruments, we used a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) and the Perceived Social Support Scale (EPSS). Regarding anxiety, depression, CMD and Perceived Social Support scores, no differences were found between people who use OSR and non-users of OSR.


Introduction
Modern society is characterized by the intensification of new interactions (Vidiasova & Grygorieva, 2018), where the internet age has brought about several changes for society, among which is the possibility of socialization through internet-mediated communication tools (computer, cellular, mobile technologies), this communication expanded the connection capacity, enabling the creation of networks in these spaces, accessing the internet, the high price of the internet access service and the fact that no resident of the household knew how to use the global internet network. Internet.
Also according to the IBGE (2019) there was an increase in internet consumption in all age groups, however, the largest increase occurred in the age group above 50 years of age. Among the objectives researched regarding internet access, sending and receiving text messages, voice or images by applications (not e-mail) was the main one, indicated by 95.7% of the people of age who used the network. Chatting via voice or video calls was mentioned by 88.1% of these people; coming soon after, watching videos, including programs, series and movies (86.1%); and, finally, sending or receiving e-mails (63.2%). Such data are in line with the research carried out by Rondán-Cataluña et al (2020), which found that every day more people around the world are connected to the main social networking sites (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram), and the number of its users is skyrocketing. At the end of 2019, Facebook had over 2.5 billion users, Twitter 330 million, YouTube 1.5 billion and Instagram 800 million.
Recent research has shown that there has been a considerable increase in indoor media consumption during the Covid-19 pandemic, suggesting that in times of crisis, people rely heavily on social media and seek to stay connected and eliminate loneliness by staying connected with family. and friends, while following the latest news to stay up to date (Agius, Grech & Grech, 2020;Lemenage et al, 2021). In Malta, online interaction increased by 200% in the early stages of the pandemic in this country, with a significant correlation between online interaction and engagement and the Covid-19 situation in the Maltese population, followed by a simultaneous increase in the emotional imbalance of the population (Agius , Grech & Grech, 2020 response were accompanied by an overabundance of information, some accurate and some not, making it difficult for people to find reliable sources and the right guidance when they need it. It is an information epidemic in the midst of a pandemic, characterizing well what Recuero (2020) was already debating about the dissemination of information on the internet in an almost epidemic way, which reaches large proportions not only of people online, but also of people offline. Therefore, the population can turn to social media to seek information and also interact, in order to help them deal with the evolving pandemic.
Understanding that the use of the internet and access to online social networks is increasing in contemporary times, and that older adults and the elderly are the fastest growing social group among users of the world wide web (Ferreira & Teixeira, 2017), it is It is urgent and extremely relevant to understand the relationship of this part of the population with the evolution of technology and the changes in social relations mediated by the internet. According to Rondán-Cataluña et al (2020), in the case of social networking sites, the medical literature emphasizes their effectiveness in improving the quality of life of older adults, showing that the use of online social networks by adults and the elderly reduces isolation, improves social participation and increases autonomy. According to these authors, from a health point of view, the elderly who use online social networks tend to have fewer chronic diseases and less depressive symptoms, while their perception of well-being increases.
This means of communication can be fundamental for the group of adults in maturity and the elderly, in which loneliness and isolation trigger physical and mental health problems. These social networks can allow these groups to connect with old friendships, who may live far away or have difficulty getting around, and with family members who have little time to visit and quickly learn about their surroundings. Social networks are a means of communication, which can become a form of healthy entertainment for people in maturity and old age, especially for those who have considerable free time. For all these reasons, it is essential to investigate the use of social networks by people in maturity and old age, especially during the period of social isolation experienced during the Covid-19 pandemic, where face-to-face interactions have become increasingly difficult due to distancing. Social.

Kind of study
The study is characterized as exploratory, descriptive, cross-sectional, with a quantitative and qualitative approach.

Participants
In a non-probabilistic and accidental way, 571 people, living in nineteen Brazilian states, aged between 50 and 88 years old (M=58.83; SD=6.74) participated, among which 78.5% were from the women. It is important to emphasize that of the total number of participants, 41.5% (N= 237) were elderly people (over 60 years old).

Instruments
For data collection, the following instruments were used: a) Sociodemographic questionnaire: aimed at characterizing the participants in relation to Use of Online Social Networks and Mental Health at maturity during the Covid-19 pandemic International Journal for Innovation Education and Research, Vol. 10 No. 08 (2022), pg. 70 sociodemographic variables (sex, age, income, marital status, religion, professional activity, state of residence), as well as in relation to the experience of quarantine (if they were complying with the quarantine , number of people living in the house, etc) and the use of online social networks (whether they used it or not). b) Self-Reporting Questionnaire ): this instrument was created (Harding et al., 1980) for the screening of common mental disorders, having already been validated in Brazil (Gonçalves, Stein, & Kapczinski , 2008). The questionnaire consists of 20 items, with a dichotomous response scale (yes or no), which constitute four factors (Depressive/Anxious Mood, Somatic Symptoms, Decreased Vital Energy, Depressive Thoughts). In this study, seven or more affirmative responses were considered as a cut-off point (Gonçalves et al., 2008;Carlotto, 2016). c) Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, HAD (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale): this is an instrument validated in Brazil (Botega, Bio, Zomignani, Garcia Jr, & Pereira, 1995), initially developed to identify symptoms of anxiety and depression in hospitalized people. The scale was subsequently validated for other contexts (Marcolino et al., 2007), and can be applied to other nonclinical samples (Djukanovic, Carlsson, & Arestedt, 2017). The instrument consists of 14 items, which constitute two independent subscales: HAD-a (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale -Anxiety, consisting of seven odd items; and HAD-d (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale -Depression), consisting of seven even items. Each subscale has scores ranging from 0 to 21. Scores of 0, 1, 2 or 3 points are given to the answers given to each item, which are added together to determine the cut-off point. As a cut-off point, it considered scores equal to or greater than eight are considered indicative of symptoms of anxiety and symptoms of depression (Olssøn, Mykletun, & Dahl, 2005). In the assessment of distress, the HAD is analyzed as a single scale, with a score between 0 and 42, having as a cutoff point indicative of distress scores equal to or greater than 15 (Djukanovic et al., 2017).

Procedure
Data collection was carried out through an online questionnaire, prepared in the Google Forms tool, and disseminated on social networks (Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp) and through emails. The beginning of the application of the questionnaire only occurred after reading the Free and Informed Consent Term and confirmation of voluntary participation. In addition, the snowball technique was used to gain access to participants with lower levels of education or who did not have social networks, who were approached through a phone call (video or voice call). After the application of the instrument, the indication of another person who could participate in the research was requested. Data from the sociodemographic questionnaire were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation). The data resulting from the SRQ-20, HAD and PSS scales were analyzed using descriptive statistics, bivariate and average comparison [Chi-square; Pearson's correlation (r); Test t and ANOVA]. The prevalence of CMD, distress and symptoms of anxiety and depression was estimated using the chi-square, considering as statistically significant associations those with p values < 0.05.

Results and Discussion
It was observed that 78.5% (n= 448) of the participants were female. Regarding marital status, 55.9% (n=319) were married or in a stable relationship; 20.8% (n=119) were separated/divorced; 14.2% (n=81) were single and 9.1% (n=52) were widowed. The data pointed to a high level of education, given that 37.4% (n = 213) of the participants had a graduate degree, 36.3% (n = 207) had higher education, 14.7% (n = 84) had completed high school, 3.5% (n=20) of respondents had incomplete high school, 3.2% (n=18) had completed elementary school, and 4.9% (n=28) had no schooling or had not completed elementary school.
With regard to income, it was found that 62.5% (n=357) of the participants had an income of more than two minimum wages, which may be related to the data collection strategy via an online form, since people with higher incomes and education are those who have greater access to the internet and use of electronic devices, such as smartphones and computers connected to the internet. Other sample characterization data can be seen in Table 1.

(4,9)
Regarding the use of online social networks (RSO), 93% (N=531) of the participants stated that they used these tools and 1.4% (N=8) stated that they had started using them during stricter social isolation ( remembering that this survey was carried out in May 2020, a period in which Brazil was experiencing stricter measures to contain the disease), 4.2% (N=24) said they had never used online social networks, while 1.4 % (N=8) said they had used it, but no longer used it. Such data corroborate the literature, which already indicates the increase in the number of users on online social networks among older adults and the elderly (Ferreira & Teixeira, 2017;IBGE, 2019). However, the fact that this research was carried out online may also have contributed to this result.

Regarding the analysis of the prevalence of Common Mental Disorders (CMD), distress (HAD) and
symptoms of anxiety (HAD-a) and depression (HAD-d), it was found that 28.3% (n=161) of the research participants showed a prevalence of CMD, 31.5% (n=180) of distress, 31% (n=180) had symptoms of anxiety and 28.2% (n=161) of depression.
In this study, the statements most frequently indicated in the SRQ-20, which assesses the CMD, showed that most participants have symptoms related to sleep, performing daily activities, losing interest in things and feeling tired easily. Such symptoms cannot be confused with expected aspects for the age, but they are indicative of psychological distress, which demands early clinical management, avoiding the worsening of symptoms.
Regarding the factors of the SRQ-20 scale, the symptoms most often positively indicated by the participants were: Feeling nervous, tense or worried, Have you been feeling sad lately, Sleep poorly and Do not feel satisfied (like) in your daily activities. The prevalence rates of CMD, distress and symptoms of anxiety and depression among the participants had values close to those found in previous studies. However, most of the study samples consisted of elderly people with clinical demands, such as chronic diseases (Fagundes et al., 2020), in contexts of vulnerability and with an income of less than two minimum wages (Rocha et al., 2012). In addition, in some studies, the cutoff point adopted for the SRQ-20 was 5/6 points. In this study, seven points were considered as indicative of CMD. Furthermore, the majority of participants in this research were people with high levels of education and income.
Added to all the issues related to living conditions, there is still the fear of death, the feeling of loneliness due to the quarantine and the mourning for possible losses during the pandemic. The association between loneliness, grief and psychological suffering in the elderly and people in maturity, after the Covid-19 pandemic, has been pointed out as demands in mental health that will need further investigation (Holmes et al., 2020).
About the use of online social networks, considering the integrative literature review carried out by Pimentel, Silva and Pichelli (2022), which pointed out the correlation between the use of online social Regarding the perception of social support and participants who make use or not of online social networks, no differences were found between the means. Regarding the symptoms of anxiety and depression, although the mean anxiety of these constructs was higher for participants who did not use OSR, there was no statistically significant difference, as can be seen in the table below: since the social is only established when relationships occur (Primo, 2016). In this perspective, Van Deursen (2020), in a research carried out on digital inequality during the pandemic in the Netherlands, found that unexpectedly, social resources were not considered influential. Apparently, a person who has an offline support network will not necessarily rely more on web-based information and communication support during a crisis.
In this sense, Recuero (2016) states that "what seems to happen on social networking sites is an amplification of connections and a change in connectivity patterns" (p.55), that is, those who are not adept at online social networks do not to interact, but they interact in other ways, whether face-to-face or mediated by landline or cell phone. This demonstrates the basic human need to interact socially, testifying that the human being is a social being (Chauí, 2013), and due to its essence, socialization will happen, whether mediated by some technological resource or not.

Conclusion
In the course of this research, it was proposed to carry out an analysis on mental health and the use of online social networks by people in maturity and old age, during the emergence of the Covid-19 polydemic. In general, it was observed that the Covid-19 pandemic had a negative impact on the mental health and psychological well-being of people aged 50 and over, a population that is growing the most in Brazil and in the world, given the aging process. world population.
It is necessary to re-signify care actions for the elderly, respecting the plurality of aging. As a possibility, it is necessary to think about the very notion of mental health, understanding that aspects such as income, family and social support and strengthening of mutual help groups, even virtual, will be fundamental for mental health care.
This study is considered to contribute to the academic literature on the use of online social networks by the elderly during the Covid-19 pandemic and the impact on psychic health. With regard to mental health (CMD, anxiety, depression), comparisons were made between people who use online social networks and people who do not use these networks, and no statistically significant differences were found. It can be considered that the moment of the pandemic itself may have indiscriminately impacted the mental health of individuals, with no distinction between users of online social networks or not. Furthermore, it is possible that, for this age group, the use or not of an online social network may not be influential in the psychic sphere.
The fact that it was carried out online, restricting the participation of people without access to the internet, constitutes a limitation of this study, and may not represent the population universe of people aged 50 years or older. In future studies, research with samples that contemplate old age, in its different forms, is suggested.