In the last decade, the use of digital technology has increased among older people. Besides, there is evidence that leisure and digital entertainment can improve mental health, in particular in stressful situations. The social upheaval that took place in October 2019 in Chile produced a citizen movement against social inequality. This situation generated a potentially stressful uncertainty due to the occurrence of violent incidents and the implementation of a state of exception. This study aims to explore the link between leisure, digital entertainment, and depressive symptomatology in older people, considering the perception of the impact of the Chilean social upheaval on self-mental health as a mediator of this association.

The results of this study showed that men reported more frequently the positive influence of the social upheaval on their mental health. Furthermore, those who engaged in leisure activities and digital entertainment more frequently reported less depressive symptomatology mediated by a more positive perception of the impact of the social upheaval on their mental health.

The authors concluded that promoting and educating on the use of leisure and entertainment digital technologies for older people can help to better approach sociohistorical events potentially stressful like the social upheaval, therefore, favoring the mental health of this age group.

Article by Javiera Rosell and Claudia Miranda from MICARE, and Alvaro Vergés.