The impact of internet use on the well-being of the elderly in China:A trajectory-based analysis
10.3969/j.issn.1674-2982.2025.10.006
- VernacularTitle:互联网使用对我国老年人幸福感的影响研究
- Author:
Jing GUO
1
;
Pei WANG
;
He LIU
;
Yuan YAO
;
Yan-xi HU
;
Yao YANG
Author Information
1. 中国人民大学人口与发展研究中心 中国人民大学国家治理大数据和人工智能创新平台 北京 100872
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Internet use;
The elderly;
Well-being;
Group Based Trajectory Modelling
- From:
Chinese Journal of Health Policy
2025;18(10):40-48
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To identify the developmental trajectories of internet use and well-being among the elderly in China,and to explore the dynamic relationship between these trajectories and the moderating role of intergenerational support from children.Methods:Group-Based Trajectory Modeling was employed to identify developmental trajectories,and moderated generalized logits models were used to analyze the relationship between trajectories and the moderating effect of intergenerational support from children.Results:Both internet use and well-being among the elderly exhibited differentiated developmental trajectories.Internet use trajectories had a significant positive impact on well-being trajectories.Compared with the low-level group,the elderly in the moderate internet use group being classified into the medium-and high-level well-being groups were 1.550 times(P<0.01)and 1.539 times(P<0.05)those of the offline group respectively,while those in the high-frequency internet use group were 9.560 times(P<0.01)and 9.030 times(P<0.01),respectively.Intergenerational support from children negatively moderated this relationship(medium-level well-being group:OR=0.768,P<0.05;high-level well-being group:OR=0.733,P<0.05).Conclusions:Internet use can sustainably enhance the well-being of the elderly over the long term,with this effect being more pronounced among those receiving less intergenerational support from children.It is recommended to establish a dual-track service system integrating online and offline channels,and to prioritize internet empowerment as a targeted social support strategy for the elderly with insufficient intergenerational support from children.
