Background and Objectives: Existing literature presents a widening digital divide among older adults in addition to the consideration of the potential adverse impacts of ageism on internet use among the older adult population. Our study aimed to investigate (a) whether older adults’ perceived ageism will be associated with their use of the internet and (b) whether the relationship between perceived ageism and internet use will be moderated by age groups and binary gender. Research Design and Methods: Using the data from the 2016 Health and Retirement Study, regression analyses were separately performed by gender. Two measures of perceived ageism were considered: (a) self-perception of aging and (b) perceived age discrimination. Results: Our findings suggested that greater exposure to ageism is generally related to less use of the internet. In addition, we found divergent patterns in the relationship between ageism and internet use by gender. For women, a lower level of internet use was predicted by more negative perceptions of aging, whereas men’s internet use was associated with the experience of age discrimination. Furthermore, interaction effects between age groups and ageism varied across gender. The negative perception of aging was more strongly associated with less internet use in older women than middle-aged women. In comparison, the perceived age discrimination predicted less internet use in middle-aged men than older men. Discussion and Implications: Our findings suggest that perceived ageism is significantly associated with internet use, and its association differs by gender.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are a global public health crisis associated with physical and poor mental health outcomes. The current study examined the prevalence and association between individual and cumulative ACEs with mental distress among adolescents and youth in Zimbabwe. Data from the 2017 Violence Against Children and Youth Survey were utilized (13–25 years old, n = 8,715). Bivariate analysis was conducted using chi-square tests to obtain the prevalence estimates. Two sets of logistic regression models were conducted to determine significant associations between independent variables (i.e., experiencing childhood physical, emotional, and sexual violence; witnessing intimate partner violence (IPV) and community violence; orphan status; and cumulative ACE exposure) and the dependent variable (i.e., mental distress in the past 30 days as measured by Kelser 6). 28.4% of the adolescents and youth reported experiencing mental distress in the past 30 days. Regarding ACEs, cumulative ACE exposure (34.7%; adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.13) and individual ACEs (i.e., experiencing childhood physical violence [39.3%; AOR = 1.41], emotional violence [55.8%; AOR = 2.67], sexual violence [50.8%; AOR = 2.00], witnessing community violence [47.3%; AOR = 1.52], witnessing IPV [43.1%; AOR = 1.47], and being orphaned during childhood [33.6%; AOR = 1.24]) were significantly associated with higher prevalence rates and odds of experiencing mental distress in the past 30 days among adolescents and youth in Zimbabwe. These findings show that ACEs are highly prevalent and increases the risk of mental distress for vulnerable adolescents and youth in Zimbabwe. Effective interventions to reduce violence exposure in families, schools, and communities are essential to mitigate the negative consequences of ACEs and mental distress of adolescents and youth in Zimbabwe. Strengthening child protection policies and involving social workers, psychologists, and mental health workers are also crucial for safeguarding vulnerable children who might be impacted by ACEs in Zimbabwe. Implications for future research are further discussed.

An estimated 761,000 children have been orphaned primarily due to HIV/AIDs in Zimbabwe. Being an orphan is one of the adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) that can lead to poor mental health outcomes, including higher levels of mental distress and suicide risk behaviors for vulnerable adolescents and young adults. This study examines the prevalence of orphanhood and its association with mental distress and suicide risk behaviors among adolescents and young adults in Zimbabwe. Data for this study was derived from the Zimbabwe Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (ZVACS). The sample size included 8,715 participants aged 13 to 18 years old. The prevalence of orphanhood was determined using chi-square tests. Four logistic regression models were employed to examine significant association between orphanhood and two outcomes (i.e., mental distress as measured by the Kesler 6 and lifetime suicide risk behaviors). The results showed that the prevalence of being an orphan was higher for adolescents and young adults with primary education or lower (48.4%), experienced moderate/severe mental distress in the past 30 days (45.3%), reported lifetime suicide thoughts/attempted suicide/self-harm (45%), were females (38.5%), and aged 18-24 years old (44.6%), respectively. Additionally, regression results showed that being an orphan was associated with higher odds of reporting moderate/severe mental distress in the past 30 days, and lifetime suicidal thoughts, attempted suicide or self-harming behaviors among adolescents and young adults. This study underscores the need to prioritize mental health interventions, including screenings for mental distress and suicide risk behaviors, as well as providing robust social support to orphans and their families with limited resources. Further research is needed to understand protective and risk factors associated with longitudinal effects of mental distress and suicidal tendencies for vulnerable orphans in Zimbabwe.