ArticleJMIR aging2025
Digital Pathways to Reducing Depression Among Aging Populations Through the "Broadband China" Pilot Program: Quasi-Natural Experiment.
Article in JMIR aging, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.
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5 citing papers in PubMed.
- Digital Divide or Compensatory Dividend? The Longitudinal Impact of Smart Health Monitoring on Intrinsic Capacity Trajectories.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- How Does Internet Use Affect Mental Health of Rural Residents? The Mediating Role of the Neighborhood Social Environment.Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- The impact of smart city pilot policies on household consumption in households with older adults: mechanisms, heterogeneity, and inequality.BMC geriatrics · 2026Article
- Beyond access: usage variety, instrumental support, and later-life depression in a prospective study of Chinese older adults.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Measuring and decomposing inequalities in intrinsic capacity among older adults in china: from an urban-rural divide perspective.Aging clinical and experimental research · 2025Article
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Abstract
backgroundWith the rise of digital technology, infrastructure development has become vital for social welfare and public health. However, evidence on its effects on depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older adults remains limited.
objectiveThis study evaluates the impact of digital infrastructure development on depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older adults, focusing on underlying mechanisms, heterogeneous effects, and health inequalities.
methodsWe use longitudinal data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), 2011-2020 (N=56,211). Exploiting the quasi-natural experiment of the "Broadband China" pilot policy, we apply a difference-in-differences approach to estimate the effect on depressive symptoms. Mediation analysis follows the Baron-Kenny 3-step procedure, with bootstrap tests (95% CI) for robustness, and causal interpretation relies on standard assumptions for observational data. Subgroup analyses explore heterogeneity across age, education, and sex groups.
resultsOur findings indicate that the "Broadband China" pilot significantly reduces depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older adults (-0.33, P<.01). The positive effect is primarily mediated through strengthened social networks, including increased family connection, close social interactions, and greater social participation. Heterogeneity analysis shows that the benefits for depression reduction are more pronounced among women (-0.38, P<.01), middle-aged adults (-0.41, P<.01), and those with lower levels of education (-0.33, P<.01). Moreover, the results suggest that digital infrastructure plays a compensatory role in mitigating health disparities, thereby reducing inequalities in depression outcomes (-0.01, P<.01).
conclusionsDigital infrastructure reduces depressive symptoms among aging populations mainly by strengthening social networks. Embedding infrastructure into long-term strategies, enhancing digital literacy, and integrating digital health services are key to promoting healthy aging and reducing inequalities.
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