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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Public Health
Sec. Digital Public Health
Volume 12 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1442075
This article is part of the Research Topic Health Literacy and Digital Health Literacy among Older Adults: Public Health Interventions View all 13 articles

Internet use and positive attitude toward aging among Chinese older adults: the mediating role of health

Provisionally accepted
Xuehui Wang Xuehui Wang *
  • Fudan University, Shanghai, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Objectives: This research seeks to explore the relationship between Internet use and attitudes toward aging among older adults in China, with a particular emphasis on the mediating role of health in this correlation. Methods: A national survey of 10,858 Chinese adults aged 60 and above was conducted, employing multiple linear regression and structural equation modeling to analyze the impact of Internet use on aging attitudes with health as a mediator. Results: The research found a significant positive association between Internet use and positive aging attitudes (β=-1.420, p<0.001). Health indicators-self-rated, physical, and mental health-were identified as key moderators, with healthier adults benefiting more from Internet use.This research reveals a positive association between Internet usage and both enhanced health and favorable perspectives on aging among older adults in China. These findings hold substantial implications for encouraging active and healthy aging in the digital era, underscoring the value of advocating for digital engagement among seniors as a means to improve their quality of life.

    Keywords: older adults, Internet use, Attitude toward aging, self-rated health, physical health, Mental Health

    Received: 01 Jun 2024; Accepted: 19 Dec 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Wang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Xuehui Wang, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.