ArticleJournal of medical Internet research2023
Mediating and Moderating Effects of Internet Use on Urban-Rural Disparities in Health Among Older Adults: Nationally Representative Cross-Sectional Survey in China.
Article in Journal of medical Internet research, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- The Associations Between Digital Exclusion and Physical or Cognitive Function in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.JMIR aging · 2026Pooled it
- A meta-analysis of technology use and cognitive aging.Nature human behaviour · 2025Pooled it
- Associations between digital health literacy and health inequalities among middle-aged and older adults: an urban-rural disparity perspective.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Internet use and health among older adults in China: Indirect associations through social participation and physical activity.PloS one · 2026Article
- Physical Activity Volume, Exercise Guidance, and Depressive Symptoms in Young-Old Adults: The Role of Internet Use Frequency and Self-Perceived Digital Proficiency.Depression and anxiety · 2026Article
- Internet Usage, Social Participation, and Depression Symptoms Among Middle-Aged and Older Adult Chinese Individuals Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence From the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Observational Study.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Observational
- Understanding the Association Between Home Broadband Connection and Well-Being Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults in China: Nationally Representative Panel Data Study.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Article
- Long-Term Impact of Using Mobile Phones and Playing Computer Games on the Brain Structure and the Risk of Neurodegenerative Diseases: Large Population-Based Study.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe urban-rural disparities in health outcomes in China are remarkable. The internet has shown the potential to reduce the likelihood of contracting a disease by increasing disease knowledge. However, little is known about the effects of internet use in alleviating health inequities between urban and rural areas.
objectiveThis study aimed to examine the mediation and moderation of health disparities between urban and rural older adults through internet use.
methodsA total of 8223 respondents were selected from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study 2018 data set. Basic activities of daily living, a brief Community Screening Instrument for Dementia, and the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale were used to measure functional disability, cognitive function, and depressive symptoms, respectively. Logistic regressions testing "internet use×urban-rural status" interactions for moderation and Karlson-Holm-Breen decomposition for mediation were performed.
resultsInternet use moderated the urban-rural disparities in cognitive function (odds ratio 7.327, 95% CI 3.011-17.832) and depressive symptoms (odds ratio 1.070, 95% CI 1.037-1.787), but the moderating effects were significant only for those using the internet daily. Karlson-Holm-Breen results showed the suppression effects of using the internet daily (β=.012, 95% CI .002-.021) on the association between urban-rural status and cognitive function. The urban-rural inequality in depressive symptoms was partially attributed to the disparity in internet use (β=-.027, 95% CI -.043 to -.009).
conclusionsThe urban-rural inequalities in mental health are partially attributable to disparities in the prevalence of internet use between the 2 groups. However, using the internet is more beneficial for the psychological health of rural users, thereby alleviating the urban-rural disparities in health. Providing convenient channels for rural older adults to use the internet, improving the ability of rural users to effectively use the internet, and promoting internet popularity in rural areas are effective approaches to reducing urban-rural health inequalities.
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