The Impact of Depression and Leisure Activities on E-Health Literacy Among Older Adults: A Cross-Cultural Study in the EU and Japan

Kumi Morishita-Suzuki (), Toshimi Ogawa (), Roberta Bevilacqua, Sebastien Dacunha, Vera Stara, Johanna Möller, Cecilia Palmier, Asako Ohara, Ai Abe, Denilson Brilliant T., Maribel Pino, Rainer Wieching, Elvira Maranesi, Anne-Sophie Rigaud, Shuichiro Watanabe, Volker Wulf and Yasuyuki Taki
Additional contact information
Kumi Morishita-Suzuki: Sendai Center for Dementia Care Research and Practices, Sendai 989-3201, Japan
Toshimi Ogawa: Smart-Aging Research Center, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8575, Japan
Roberta Bevilacqua: Scientific Direction, IRCCS INRCA, 60124 Ancona, Italy
Sebastien Dacunha: Maladie d’Alzheimer, Université de Parisance, 75006 Paris, France
Vera Stara: Scientific Direction, IRCCS INRCA, 60124 Ancona, Italy
Johanna Möller: Diöcesan Caritas Association for the Archdiocese of Cologne, D-50676 Cologne, Germany
Cecilia Palmier: Centre Hospitalier Jacques Coeur, 18000 Bourges, France
Asako Ohara: Misawa Homes Institute, Research and Development Co., Ltd., Tokyo 168-0072, Japan
Ai Abe: Smart-Aging Research Center, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8575, Japan
Denilson Brilliant T.: Smart-Aging Research Center, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8575, Japan
Maribel Pino: Maladie d’Alzheimer, Université de Parisance, 75006 Paris, France
Rainer Wieching: Institute for New Media & Information Systems, University Siegen, D-57072 Siegen, Germany
Elvira Maranesi: Scientific Direction, IRCCS INRCA, 60124 Ancona, Italy
Anne-Sophie Rigaud: Maladie d’Alzheimer, Université de Parisance, 75006 Paris, France
Shuichiro Watanabe: Graduate School of Gerontology, J.F. Oberlin University, Tokyo 194-0213, Japan
Volker Wulf: Institute for New Media & Information Systems, University Siegen, D-57072 Siegen, Germany
Yasuyuki Taki: Smart-Aging Research Center, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8575, Japan

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 3, 1-9

Abstract: Health services through digital technologies (e-health) offer a promising solution, but some older adults may encounter difficulties in utilizing these resources due to varying levels of e-health literacy. This study investigated the relationship between depression, leisure activities, and e-health literacy among older adults in the EU and Japan using cross-sectional data from the e-ViTA baseline survey. Findings revealed that depression was negatively associated with e-health literacy in both regions (EU: β = −0.54, 95% confidence interval (CI): −0.79, −0.28; Japan: β= −0.24, 95%CI: −0.46, −0.02). Leisure activities were positively associated with e-health literacy only in the EU (β = 0.55, 95%CI: 0.23, 0.87). Moreover, leisure activities appeared to partially mediate the relationship between depression and e-health literacy in the EU group. These results highlight the need to address mental health issues and promote leisure activities to improve e-health literacy among older adults, emphasizing tailored interventions for different cultural contexts.

Keywords: digital health; aging population; mental health; social engagement; e-ViTA (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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