To analyze the effects of watching short videos on the mental health of the middle-aged and elderly in China, to provide scientific basis for improving the mental health of the middle-aged and elderly.

Based on the data of China family panel studies (CFPS) in 2020, the linear regression model and propensity score matching method were used to explore the average effect of watching short videos on the mental health of the middle-aged and elderly.

Watching short videos could significantly improve the mental health level of middle-aged people (β=-0.217, P < 0.05). Watching short videos had a more significant effect on women, rural areas, and middle-aged and elderly people with an education level of junior high school or below (women: β=-0.323, P<0.05; rural areas: β=-0.309, P<0.05; junior high school: β =-0.387, P <0.01; middle-aged people: β=-0.270, P<0.05). The nearest neighbor matching, radius matching, and kernel matching all passed statistical tests.

Watching short videos has to some extent improved the mental health of middle-aged and elderly people, and it is necessary to further increase the internet penetration rate of the elderly population and expand the coverage of smartphone usage training. Attention should be paid to the mental health of women, rural registered residence, middle-aged and elderly people with low education and income levels as well as physical diseases.