Measurement Invariance of Social Media Use in Younger and Older Adults and Links to Socioemotional Health

Neika Sharifian; A Zarina Kraal; Afsara B Zaheed; Ketlyne Sol; Emily P Morris; Laura B Zahodne

doi:10.1093/geroni/igab009

journal article Open Access Mar 11, 2021

Measurement Invariance of Social Media Use in Younger and Older Adults and Links to Socioemotional Health

Neika Sharifian A Zarina Kraal

Afsara B Zaheed

Ketlyne Sol

Emily P Morris Laura B Zahodne

Innovation in Aging Vol. 5 No. 2 · Oxford University Press (OUP)

View at Publisher Save 10.1093/geroni/igab009

Abstract

Abstract

Background and Objectives
Social media use has been linked to socioemotional health; however, less is known regarding whether these associations are moderated by age. Additionally, as the use of social media in older adult populations is rapidly increasing, there is a greater need for the investigation of psychometric properties of social media usage scales before determining age differences in the impact of social media on socioemotional health outcomes.

Research Design and Methods
Using an online adult life-span sample (n = 592), the current cross-sectional study tested the measurement invariance of the general social media usage subscale of the Media and Technology Usage and Attitudes Scale across younger (aged 19–54) versus older (aged 55–81) adults and whether age moderated associations between social media use and socioemotional health (depressive symptoms, self-esteem, and envy).

Results
Confirmatory factor analyses revealed that posting-related and checking-related items were noninvariant across age groups. In multigroup structural equation models accounting for differential item functioning, higher social media use was associated with more depressive symptoms in younger adults, but not in older adults. While higher social media use was associated with higher envy in both age groups, this association was stronger in younger adults.

Discussion and Implications
Findings suggest younger adults may be more susceptible to the detrimental effects of social media use on socioemotional health. Future directions regarding the measurement of social media use and the salience of social media use across the life span are discussed.

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Published: Mar 11, 2021
Vol/Issue: 5(2)
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Neika Sharifian