Use of the Internet by seniors as a communication technology may lead to changes in older adult social relationships. This study used an online questionnaire to survey 222 Australians over 55 years of age on Internet use. Respondents primarily used the Internet for communication, seeking information, and commercial purposes. The results showed negative correlations between loneliness and well-being. Multiple regression analyses revealed that greater use of the Internet as a communication tool was associated with a lower level of social loneliness. In contrast, greater use of the Internet to find new people was associated with a higher level of emotional loneliness.

Disclosure of personal information is believed to be more frequent in online compared to offline communication. However, this assumption is both theoretically and empirically contested. This systematic review examined existing research comparing online and offline self-disclosure to ascertain the evidence for current theories of online communication. Studies that compared online and offline disclosures in dyadic interactions were included for review. Contrary to expectations, disclosure was not consistently found to be greater in online contexts. Factors such as the relationship between the communicators, the specific mode of communication, and the context of the interaction appear to moderate the degree of disclosure. In relation to the theories of online communication, there is support for each theory. It is argued that the overlapping predictions of each theory and the current state of empirical research highlights a need for an overarching theory of communication that can account for disclosure in both online and offline interactions.

Journal of Medical Internet Research - International Scientific Journal for Medical Research, Information and Communication on the Internet #Preprint #PeerReviewMe: Warning: This is a unreviewed preprint. Readers are warned that the document has not been peer-reviewed by expert/patient reviewers or an academic editor, may contain misleading claims, and is likely to undergo changes before final publication, if accepted, or may have been rejected/withdrawn. Readers with interest and expertise are encouraged to sign up as peer-reviewer, if the paper is within an open peer-review period. Please cite this preprint only for review purposes or for grant applications and CVs (if you are the author). Background: The onset of mental health problems peaks between adolescence and young adulthood, however young people face barriers to treatment and are often reluctant to seek professional help. Many are instead seeking support and information regarding their mental health online, especially via social networking sites (SNSs), so there is a promising opportunity to use SNSs to deliver or integrate with youth-focused online mental health interventions. Previous reviews have evaluated the effectiveness of SNSs for specific disorders in young people, however none to have covered the breadth of SNS-based youth mental health interventions available across all mental health issues. Objective: The aim of this review was to systematically identify available evidence regarding the use of SNS-based interventions to support the mental health of young people up to 25 years, in order to evaluate their effectiveness, suitability and safety, and identify gaps and opportunities for future research. Methods: The PubMed and PsycInfo databases were searched using Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms and exploded keywords and phrases. Retrieved abstracts (n=974) were double screened, yielding 235 articles for screening at the full-text level. Of these, nine articles met the review inclusion criteria. Given the small number of studies, their exploratory nature and the variety of outcome measures used, a quantitative meta-analysis was not possible. Results: The nine articles (quantitative studies, qualitative studies and descriptions of the iterative design process) covered five separate interventions. Two interventions used purpose-built platforms based on the Moderated Online Social Therapy (MOST) model, two used Facebook, and one evaluated a purpose-built mobile app. The two MOST interventions targeted specific mental health issues (depression and psychosis), while the others focused on improving mental health literacy, social support and general wellbeing. Only three quantitative studies were identified, and all used a pre-post design (without a control group) to establish ‘proof of concept’. Of the outcome variables assessed, there were significant improvements in mental health knowledge and number of depressive symptoms, but no improvement in anxiety or psychosis symptoms. Acceptability of and engagement with the SNS platforms was generally high, as were perceptions of usefulness and safety, with no adverse incidents reported. Moderation by clinical experts was identified as a key component of the more successful interventions. When offered a choice, users showed a preference for mobile apps over web-based interfaces. Conclusions: The evidence reviewed suggests young people find SNS-based interventions highly usable, engaging and supportive. However, future studies need to address the current lack of high-quality evidence for their efficacy in reducing mental health symptoms. Given that young people are already turning to SNSs to engage in knowledge-seeking and peer-to-peer support, SNS-based youth mental health interventions provide an opportunity to address some of the barriers young people face in accessing qualified mental health support and information.

The Internet has often been argued to have adverse psychological consequences, such as depression or anxiety symptoms, among "over-users." The present study offers an alternative understanding, suggesting the Internet may be used as a forum for expanding social networks and consequently enhancing the chance of meaningful relationships, self-confidence, social abilities, and social support. An online sample of 188 people was recruited over the Internet, while paper and pencil tests were administered to an offline sample group of 27 undergraduate university students, who were regular Internet users. Subjects completed the Zung Depression Scale (ZDS), Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS), Eysenck Personality Questionnaire?Revised Short Scale (EPQ-R Short), Fear of Negative Evaluation (FNE) scale, Internet Use Questionnaire (IUQ), and an Internet Effects Questionnaire (IEQ). Results suggested that there was no relationship between time spent online and depression, anxiety, or social fearfulness. Those who primarily used the Internet for online chat believed that the Internet is psychologically beneficial to them, but also believed that frequent Internet users are lonely and that the Internet can be addictive. It is argued that "chat" users who are socially fearful may be using the Internet as a form of low-risk social approach and an opportunity to rehearse social behavior and communication skills, which, may help them improve interaction with offline, face-to-face, social environments.