Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42712356›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in public health2026

Mental health implications in the older adults of internet access in China.

Chi Zhang, Lue Zhou, Xiaoyu Cheng

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Chi ZhangZhejiang University of Finance and Economics, Hangzhou, China.
Lue ZhouZhejiang University of Finance and Economics, Hangzhou, China.
Xiaoyu ChengZhejiang University of Finance and Economics, Hangzhou, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Social isolation is a significant factor contributing to mental health issues among the older adults, particularly in societies experiencing rapid population aging. Notably, digital technology offers an effective means to address this issue. However, little is known that how access to internet affects the mental health of the older adults. Based on the China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (2018-2020) data, a national representative data, this study explored the impact of internet access on the older adults mental health by broadening their social network. The results show that internet access significantly reduces the risk of depression of the older adults. This mitigating effect is attributed to the way digital technology enhances the ties of the older adults with family and friends, which in turn helps prevent social isolation and leads to improved mental health. Furthermore, the study finds that community-based service infrastructure and family-level filial support can significantly amplify the effect of internet access on mental health. The effects are stronger for urban residents and "young-old" cohort (aged 60-80). These findings demonstrate that fostering digital inclusion among the older adults is an effective strategy for enhancing their psychological wellbeing within aging societies.

Indexed as

InternetInternet AccessMental HealthAgedAged, 80 and overAgingChinaDepressionDigital MediaFemaleHumansLongitudinal StudiesMaleSocial IsolationSocial NetworkingSocial Supportactive agingChinainternet accessolder adults’ mental healthsocial networks

Identifiers

PMID42712356
PMCPMC13549843

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.