Studies on the Digital Inclusion Among Older Adults and the Quality of Life—A Nanjing Example in China

Frontiers in Public Health

article

Hui Yang¹  Hongtu Chen²  Tianshu Pan³  Yiran Lin⁴  Ying Zhang⁵  Honglin Chen⁶ 

[1] Department of Sociology, Minzu University of China;Department of Global Health and Social Medicine Affiliate, Harvard Medical School;School of Social Development and Public Policy, Fudan University;College of Public Administration, Nanjing Agricultural University;Dongfang College, Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics;Department of Social Sciences, University of Eastern Finland;Department of Social Work, Fudan University

关键词: digital inclusion;    quality of life;    multinomial logit model;    older adults;    Nanjing;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpubh.2022.811959

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

Digital inclusion can bridge the digital divide and reduce the social exclusion of older adults, yet it is understudied in China. This research examined factors influencing the digital inclusion of older adults in China and the relationship between digital inclusion and quality of life. Data collected from 312 older people ( M = 69.6 years old) in Nanjing were included in a multinomial logit model to tackle these questions. Their attitudes toward technology were the most significant factor predicting their digital inclusion. Other factors included party affiliation, living situation, personal average monthly income, occupation, and capacity for instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs). This study shows digital inclusion has a direct impact on quality of life. It also serves as an intermediate variable that affects older people's attitudes toward technology and their IADL capacities. Most importantly, digital inclusion promotes social integration of older adults and improves the quality of their lives. Hence, it should not be ignored. Older people's attitudes toward technology are one of the keys to promoting their digital inclusion.

【 授权许可】

CC BY