Luo Qian, Zhang Haomiao, Zhang Weike, Shi Dijia
School of Public Administration, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China.
Healthcare (Basel). 2025 Sep 1;13(17):2189. doi: 10.3390/healthcare13172189.
: In the social context characterized by digitization and population aging, empty-nest older individuals have emerged as a particularly vulnerable group. This study examines the impact of digital finance on the mental health of empty-nest older individuals using data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) spanning 2011 to 2018 and investigates its underlying mechanisms through the three dimensions of active aging. : The findings suggest that digital finance is associated with reduced likelihood and degree of depression among empty-nest older individuals. The beneficial effect of digital finance on depression is more pronounced among empty-nest older individuals with lower educational attainment, without supplementary pensions, and residing in rural areas. Furthermore, mechanism analysis shows that digital finance relates to better health outcomes, greater security, and increased social participation among empty-nest older individuals. : These findings underscore the potential of digital finance to facilitate active aging among empty-nest older individuals.
在以数字化和人口老龄化特征的社会背景下，空巢老年人已成为一个特别脆弱的群体。本研究利用2011年至2018年中国健康与养老追踪调查（CHARLS）的数据，考察数字金融对空巢老年人心理健康的影响，并通过积极老龄化的三个维度探究其潜在机制。研究结果表明，数字金融与空巢老年人抑郁的可能性降低和程度减轻相关。数字金融对抑郁的有益影响在受教育程度较低、没有补充养老金且居住在农村地区的空巢老年人中更为明显。此外，机制分析表明，数字金融与空巢老年人更好的健康状况、更高的安全感和更多的社会参与有关。这些发现强调了数字金融在促进空巢老年人积极老龄化方面的潜力。
