• From disconnection to well-bei...

Treffer: From disconnection to well-being: a longitudinal study on digital access as a social determinant of health for older adults in China.

Title:
From disconnection to well-being: a longitudinal study on digital access as a social determinant of health for older adults in China.
Authors:
Ye M; Department of Sociology, School of Social Work, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, Texas, United States., Hu J; Department of Innovative Social Work, Faculty of Health and Wellness, City University of Macau, Macao, China.
Source:
The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences [J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci] 2026 Jan 02; Vol. 81 (1).
Publication Type:
Journal Article
Language:
English
Journal Info:
Publisher: published on behalf of the Gerontological Society of America by Oxford University Press Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 9508483 Publication Model: Print Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1758-5368 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 10795014 NLM ISO Abbreviation: J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s):
Publication: Washington, DC : published on behalf of the Gerontological Society of America by Oxford University Press
Original Publication: Washington, DC : Gerontological Society of America, c1995-
MeSH Terms:
Social Determinants of Health*/statistics & numerical data , Personal Satisfaction* , Aging*/psychology , Internet Access*/statistics & numerical data, Humans ; Longitudinal Studies ; Aged ; Male ; China ; Female ; Aged, 80 and over ; Middle Aged
Contributed Indexing:
Keywords: Digital accessibility; Digital inclusion; Social determinants of health; Subjective well-being
Entry Date(s):
Date Created: 20251025 Date Completed: 20260103 Latest Revision: 20260103
Update Code:
20260103
DOI:
10.1093/geronb/gbaf211
PMID:
41138162
Database:
MEDLINE

Weitere Informationen

Objectives: This study innovatively includes digital access as a social determinant of health (SDoH) to examine the longitudinal relationship between digital inclusion and subjective well-being among older adults in China, one of the largest aging populations worldwide.
Methods: We used data from the Chinese Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (CLASS, 2016 and 2020 waves). We applied the SDoH framework to analyze the interaction between digital inclusion and social structures at the micro, meso, and macro levels. Digital accessibility was captured in waves in 2016 and 2020. Four digital accessibility trajectories were identified: continuous access, gained access, lost access, and never accessed. Subjective well-being is a latent variable constructed from life satisfaction, self-rated health, and social adaptation from CLASS 2020 wave. All other independent variables, including micro-, meso-, and macro-level variables, were measured in the CLASS 2016 wave. Multinomial logistic regression and ordinary least squares analyses were conducted to determine the factors associated with digital inclusion and subjective well-being.
Results: Our findings reveal that urban residence, higher education, preretirement occupation, and intergenerational co-residence are significantly associated with increased digital inclusion. Conversely, advanced age and lower socioeconomic status are linked to digital exclusion. Continuous digital access, education, activities of daily living, and social support have been found to positively correlate with enhanced subjective well-being.
Discussion: This study recognizes digital inclusion as a key SDoH, emphasizes the structural barriers to digital access, and advocates interventions for enhancing digital literacy, infrastructure, and family/community digital engagement for older adults.
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