Accepted for/Published in: Journal of Medical Internet Research
Date Submitted: Jun 8, 2022
Date Accepted: Aug 20, 2023
The Contribution of the Internet to Promoting Mental Health for Older Adults in China: The Mediating Effect of Voluntary Participation and the Moderating Effect of Subjective Age
ABSTRACT
Background:
Background:
Health is not only the eternal theme pursued by all humanity but also the cornerstone and destination for high-quality economic and social development. Based on the data of the China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (CLASS) in 2018, we aimed to investigate the association between Internet use and mental health of elderly people in China.
Objective:
Objective:
This study explore the relationship and mechanism between Internet use and the mental health of elderly people in China. In particular, this study tested the mediation effects of voluntary participation between Internet use and the mental health of the elderly. Besides, this paper examined the moderate effect of subjective age on Internet use and mental health.
Methods:
Methods:
We selected 6,648 Chinese elderly people over 60 as samples from China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (CLASS) 2018 dataset. Multiple linear regression is adopted to explore the relationship between Internet use (independent variable) and mental health of elderly people. Robustness analysis, sensitivity analysis, and heterogeneity analysis are detailedly conducted to verify the empirical result.
Results:
Results:
Results found that Internet use can significantly improve the mental health of the elderly. After endogenous and robustness tests, the above conclusion remains robust. In particular, voluntary participation plays a mediating role in the relationship between Internet use and the mental health of the elderly. In addition, higher subjective age enhances the positive effect of Internet use on mental health in older adults.
Conclusions:
Conclusions:
Internet use was positively associated with mental health. To improve the elderly's health level, the government should not only cultivate the ability to use Internet but also encourage greater voluntary participation amongst the aged.
Citation
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