Smartphone-use profiles and cognitive and socioemotional outcomes in middle-aged and older adults: a latent profile analysis

Findings on the association between smartphone use and cognitive and socioemotional outcomes in middle-aged and older adults are mixed. Given that previous studies have not considered smartphone-use patterns across a variety of applications, we examined the relations between latent smartphone-use profiles and depressive symptoms, life satisfaction, and cognitive failures. We analyzed data from 7,810 healthy middle-aged and older adults (M-age = 61.45, SD = 5.89) who participated in the Singapore Life Panel study. By concurrently considering 10 smartphone activities-calling, messaging, alarms, photography, social networking services, watching videos, playing games, online banking/ shopping, maps/navigation, and voice assistance-we identified five distinct profiles: nonuse, basic and restrained use, social interaction and entertainment, traditional communication, and advanced maximization. We found significant profile differences in depressive symptoms and life satisfaction but not in cognitive failures. Specifically, the traditional communication profile showed significantly fewer depressive symptoms than the social interaction and entertainment, basic and restrained use, and nonuse profiles. Advanced maximization profile also yielded similar results but to a lesser extent. Regarding life satisfaction, the advanced maximization-followed by the social interaction and entertainment-profiles were found to be more beneficial than the other profiles. These results held when multiple covariates were controlled for. Together, our findings demonstrate that individuals with more active use of advanced and wide-ranging functions-particularly communication, social interaction, and entertainment-experience higher life satisfaction and reduced depressive symptoms. Using a person-centered approach, our findings underscore substantial heterogeneity in middle-aged and older adults' smartphone activities and their different psychological implications.