Liu Shu
School of International and Public Affairs, Jilin University, Changchun, China.
Digit Health. 2025 Jul 10;11:20552076251359130. doi: 10.1177/20552076251359130. eCollection 2025 Jan-Dec.
This study aimed to assess the effects of older Chinese adults' online behaviors (including recent access to the Internet and duration of Internet use) on their current health habits and health status. Health status comprised self-rated physical and mental health.
Interviewees aged over 60 years who participated consecutively in the 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2020 China Family Panel Studies were selected. Ordinary least squares and ordered logit regression analyses were used to analyze the associations between older adults' online behaviors and their health habits and status. Propensity score matching analysis was employed to mitigate selection bias. Structural equation modeling was conducted to test the robustness of the findings and to explore whether the associations between recent and continued Internet use and their health were mediated by older adults' prioritization of online entertainment, learning, communication, and lifestyle-related activities.
The results showed that Internet access among older adults was positively associated with health habits, increased self-rated health levels, and improved physical and mental health. Continuous Internet use among older adults may be a predictor of better mental health. While prioritization of online life style could improve physical health, prioritization of online communication might be prejudicial to acquiring health habits.
Internet access may support healthy aging by encouraging older adults to adopt healthier lifestyles. However, the varied effects of different types of online behavior underscore the importance of designing targeted digital interventions rather than blanket promotion of technology adoption.
本研究旨在评估中国老年成年人的网络行为（包括近期上网情况和上网时长）对其当前健康习惯和健康状况的影响。健康状况包括自评身体健康和心理健康。
选取连续参加2010年、2014年、2018年和2020年中国家庭追踪调查的60岁以上受访者。采用普通最小二乘法和有序logit回归分析来分析老年人网络行为与其健康习惯和状况之间的关联。运用倾向得分匹配分析来减轻选择偏差。进行结构方程模型分析以检验研究结果的稳健性，并探讨近期和持续上网与其健康之间的关联是否通过老年人对网络娱乐、学习、交流及生活方式相关活动的优先级排序来介导。
结果显示，老年人上网与健康习惯、自评健康水平提高以及身心健康改善呈正相关。老年人持续上网可能是心理健康状况更好的一个预测指标。虽然优先考虑网络生活方式可改善身体健康，但优先考虑网络交流可能不利于养成健康习惯。
上网可能通过鼓励老年人采用更健康的生活方式来支持健康老龄化。然而，不同类型网络行为的不同影响凸显了设计有针对性的数字干预措施而非全面推广技术应用的重要性。
