Wen Xiaoli, Tian Beihai
School of Humanities & Social Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural University, No. 1 Shizishan Street, Wuhan 430070, China.
Healthcare (Basel). 2024 Dec 23;12(24):2593. doi: 10.3390/healthcare12242593.
In recent years, the growing prevalence of digital technology has transformed every aspect of life, including mental health care and support. Digital integration-referring to both access to digital technology and the utilization of digital tools in daily life-has the potential to alleviate existing health inequalities, a phenomenon that has been labeled the 'digital divide'. It is, therefore, imperative to gain an understanding of the mental health dynamics of vulnerable groups in the context of the digital age if we are to develop effective policies and interventions. The present study aimed to expand the existing knowledge base on the impact of digital integration on the mental health of low-income populations, with a specific focus on its association with social participation and the contextual variations observed between urban and rural settings. A total of 930 Chinese urban and rural low-income residents (≥18 years old) were included in the study using data from the Comprehensive Social Survey of Urban and Rural Low-Income Populations in Hubei Province, China, 2022. Multiple linear regression, generalized propensity score matching, causal step regression, and bootstrap methods were adopted to assess the direct impact of digital integration on the mental health of low-income populations, as well as to test the mediating role of social participation. Digital integration was positively associated with the mental health of low-income populations, particularly reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression among low-income individuals, which remains robust even after accounting for potential selective bias. Social participation played a significant mediating role in the relationship between digital integration and the mental health of low-income populations. Heterogeneity analyses indicated that while digital integration has been demonstrated to markedly enhance mental health outcomes among urban low-income groups, this effect has not been observed in rural low-income populations. The present study contributes to the growing understanding of digital integration as a pathway to reducing mental health inequalities. It is imperative that targeted interventions be implemented to enhance digital integration and, in turn, improve mental health outcomes in low-income communities, particularly in rural areas, where the impact is less discernible.
近年来，数字技术的日益普及改变了生活的方方面面，包括精神卫生保健与支持。数字融合——指的是获取数字技术以及在日常生活中使用数字工具——有可能缓解现有的健康不平等现象，这种现象被称为“数字鸿沟”。因此，如果我们要制定有效的政策和干预措施，就必须了解数字时代弱势群体的心理健康动态。本研究旨在扩展关于数字融合对低收入人群心理健康影响的现有知识库，特别关注其与社会参与的关联以及城乡之间观察到的背景差异。利用来自2022年中国湖北省城乡低收入人群综合社会调查的数据，本研究纳入了930名中国城乡低收入居民（≥18岁）。采用多元线性回归、广义倾向得分匹配、因果逐步回归和自助法来评估数字融合对低收入人群心理健康的直接影响，并检验社会参与的中介作用。数字融合与低收入人群的心理健康呈正相关，尤其能减轻低收入个体的焦虑和抑郁症状，即使在考虑了潜在的选择性偏差后，这种关联依然稳健。社会参与在数字融合与低收入人群心理健康的关系中发挥了显著的中介作用。异质性分析表明，虽然数字融合已被证明能显著改善城市低收入群体的心理健康状况，但在农村低收入人群中并未观察到这种效果。本研究有助于人们进一步理解数字融合是减少心理健康不平等的一条途径。必须实施有针对性的干预措施，以加强数字融合，进而改善低收入社区，特别是农村地区的心理健康状况，因为在农村地区这种影响不太明显。
