Mediating Effects of Information Access on Internet Use and Multidimensional Health Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: With the exacerbation of population aging, the health issues of middle-aged and older adults have increasingly become a focus of attention. The widespread use of the internet has created conditions for promoting the health of this demographic. However, little is known about the effects of information access in promoting the relationship between internet use and the health of middle-aged and older adults. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to examine the relationship between internet use and multidimensional health in middle-aged and older adults, as well as the mediating effect of information access. Moreover, this study will explore the relationship between other dimensions of internet use (purposes and frequency) and health. METHODS: Data were sourced from the China General Social Survey conducted in 2018. Health outcomes, including self-rated, physical, and mental health, were assessed using the 5-level self-rated health scale, the 5-level basic activities of daily living scale, and the 5-level depression scale, respectively. The ordinal logistic regression model was used to examine the relationship between internet use and health among middle-aged and older adults. Additionally, the Karlson-Holm-Breen decomposition method was used to examine the mediation effect of information access. To address endogeneity issues, the two-stage least squares approach was applied. RESULTS: In our sample, nearly half (n=3036, 46.3%) of the respondents use the internet. Regression analyses revealed that internet use was positively associated with self-rated health (odds ratio [OR] 1.55, 95% CI 1.39-1.74; P<.001), physical health (OR 1.39, 95% CI 1.25-1.56; P<.001), and mental health (OR 1.33, 95% CI 1.19-1.49; P<.001) of middle-aged and older adults. Various dimensions of internet use positively contribute to health. In addition, information access significantly mediated the relationship between internet use and self-rated health (ß=.28, 95% CI 0.23-0.32), physical health (ß=.40, 95% CI 0.35-0.45), and mental health (ß=.16, 95% CI 0.11-0.20). Furthermore, there were significant differences in the relationship between internet use and health among advantaged and disadvantaged groups. CONCLUSIONS: The study showed that different dimensions of internet use are associated with better self-rated health, better physical health, and better mental health in middle-aged and older adults. Information access mediates the relationship between internet use and health. This result emphasizes the significance of promoting internet access as a means to enhance the health of middle-aged and older adults in China.

Dose-Response Associations of Internet Use Time and Internet Addiction With Depressive Symptoms Among Chinese Children and Adolescents: Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Children's lives are increasingly mediated by digital technologies, yet evidence regarding the associations between internet use and depression is far from comprehensive and remains unclear. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the dose-response association between internet use, including use time and addiction behaviors, and depressive symptoms among children and adolescents in Zhejiang Province. Methods: Data were collected from a school-based health survey China Common Disease and Risk Factor Surveillance Among Students, encompassing 21,336 students in Zhejiang Province. The daily internet use time, internet addiction (IA) behaviors, and depressive symptoms were assessed with questionnaires. Logistic regression models were used to explore the associations of internet use time and IA behaviors with depressive symptoms among children and adolescents. Restricted cubic spline curves were used to determine the dose-response associations. Results: A total of 6225 (29.2%) students had depressive symptoms. Compared to those reporting no internet use, boys using the internet for >2 hours/day (odds ratio [OR] 1.53, 95% CI 1.34-1.74) and girls using internet for 1.1-2 hours/day (OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.06-1.39) and >2 hours/day (OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.50-1.93) were at higher risks of depressive symptoms. A significant J-shaped association was identified between internet use time and depressive symptoms among children and adolescents, especially in boys and primary school students (nonlinear P values were .006, .003, and <.001, respectively). Increased IA behaviors were associated with a higher odd of depressive symptoms (1 IA behavior: OR 2.01, 95% CI 1.83-2.21; 2 IA behaviors: 2.91, 95% CI 2.57-3.29; and ≥3 IA behaviors: 4.72, 95% CI 4.26-5.22). A positive nonlinear association between the number of IA behaviors and depressive symptoms was found in total population, girls, and primary school students (nonlinear P values were .02, .002, .007, respectively). Conclusions: Findings suggested that excessive internet use time and IA behaviors were significantly associated with an increased risk of depressive symptoms, highlighting the importance of interventions to regulate and educate about adequate internet use during childhood and adolescence.

The relationship between social frailty and cognitive impairment among older adults: the role of various types of internet use.

Introduction: This study aimed to explore the role of internet use in the relationship between social frailty and cognitive function among Korean older adults. Methods: A nationally representative survey of community-dwelling older adults in Korea was used in the analysis (N = 8,639). Results: All types of internet use were significantly associated with cognitive impairment and played a significant role in the relationship between social frailty and cognitive impairment. The advantage of internet use for information searching (OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.35-0.46) was the greatest for cognitive function, followed by internet use for instrumental use (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.53-0.66). Internet use for entertainment exhibited the greatest influence in the relationship between social frailty and cognitive impairment, with interpersonal communication ranking second in significance. Internet use regulates the relationship between social frailty and cognitive impairment in older adults. The influences of internet use vary depending on the type of online activity and the levels of social frailty. Discussion: This highlights the importance of considering various forms of internet use when developing non-pharmacological interventions to mitigate the impact of social frailty on cognitive decline.

Internet use and adolescent development in rural China: A scoping review protocol of research landscape and gaps.

INTRODUCTION: In the digital era, the Internet has become a necessity in adolescents' daily lives. Many studies globally are exploring the influences of Internet use on adolescent development, but they focus on the negative impacts of simplistic "screen time" on adolescents' physical and mental health, rather than both positive and negative influences of multifaceted Internet use on multidimensional adolescent development. Specifically in rural China, adolescents live in disadvantageous and marginalizing contexts, and Internet use is widespread among this population. However, knowledge on Internet use and adolescent development in rural China is fragmented. It is still unclear in what ways Internet use would bring benefits or risks for Chinese rural adolescents' healthy growth. Therefore, the objective of this scoping review is to identify the current research landscape, gaps, and future directions in rural China contexts. It aims to provide a comprehensive overview of elements, findings, and limitations in existing empirical studies on the influences of Internet use on adolescent development in rural China. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The standard for conducting this scoping review is the five-stage model proposed by Arksey and O'Malley, and the reporting standard is the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). The overall research question is: What are the influences of Internet use on adolescent development in rural China? In consultation with librarians, to locate articles, subject headings (controlled vocabularies) and textwords (keywords) in article titles, abstracts, and author-assigned keywords will be searched in APA PsycInfo (psychology), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (interdisciplinary), Communication Abstracts (media and communication), Education Source (education), MEDLINE (public health), Social Services Abstracts (social work), Social Work Abstracts (social work), and Sociological Abstracts (sociology). The review process via Covidence will consist of two sequential steps based on inclusion/exclusion criteria: the title and abstract review and the full-text review. Then study characteristics and research findings will be charted, and the results will be analyzed and synthesized quantitatively and qualitatively via visualizations and narratives, guided by the typological frameworks of Internet use and adolescent development. DISCUSSION: The scoping review will be a pioneering review to inform the current research landscape and gaps in the Internet use influences on adolescent development in rural China. It will advance the research agenda on this issue conceptually, theoretically, and empirically. In addition, it can provide contextual implications for designing prevention and intervention programs.

Internet use, spatial variation and its determinants among reproductive age women in Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: The Internet is the preferred source of health information for retrieving relevant information. In Ethiopia, the Internet penetration rate is improving year to year, but it is still at a low level compared to the rest of the world and neighboring African countries. Due to a lack of adequate information, it is important to assess Internet use, spatial variation, and determinants of Internet use among reproductive-age group women in Ethiopia. METHOD: Secondary data from EDHS 2016 were used to analyze 15,683 women aged 15-49 years. Spatial analysis was performed using ArcGIS 10.7. The Bernoulli model was used by applying Kuldorff's methods using SaTScan 10.1.2 software to analyze the purely spatial clusters of Internet use. A multilevel mixed-effect logistic regression was applied to estimate community variance to identify individual- and community-level factors associated with Internet use. All models were fitted in STATA version 17.0, and finally, the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) was reported. RESULT: The magnitude of Internet use was 4.97% ± 95% CI (4.63-5.32). The overall average age of women was 24.21 ± 8.06 years, with the age range 15-24 years constituting the larger group (39.2%). Women with secondary and above education [AOR = 6.47; 95% CI (5.04, 8.31)], unmarried [AOR = 2.60; 95% CI (1.89, 3.56)], rich [AOR = 1.95; 95% CI (1.00, 3.80)], own a mobile phone [AOR = 3.74; 95% CI (2.75, 5.09)], media exposure [AOR = 2.63; 95% CI (2.03, 3.42)], and urban [AOR = 1.80; 95% CI (1.08, 3.01)] had higher odds of Internet use. The spatial variation in Internet use was found to be nonrandom (global Moran's I = 0.58, p value < 0.001). Fifty-seven primary clusters were identified that were located in Addis Ababa city with a relative likelihood of 10.24 and a log-likelihood ratio of 425.16. CONCLUSIONS: Internet use among reproductive-age women in Ethiopia is 4.97 and has significant spatial variation across the country. Both community- and individual-level factors affect Internet use in Ethiopia. Therefore, educating women, improving access to media, encouraging women to use family planning, and supporting household wealth could improve women's Internet use.

Socioeconomic inequalities in the relationship between internet usage patterns and depressive symptoms: Evidence from a Chinese longitudinal study.

Background: The increasing prevalence of depressive symptoms has emerged as a critical public health issue globally, highlighting the need for analyses of the factors contributing to depressive symptoms within the Chinese population and the development of targeted recommendations for improving mental well-being. We aimed to explore the correlation between internet use and depressive symptoms and the role of socioeconomic inequalities in this association. Methods: We included data on 8019 residents aged 18 years and above, which we retrieved from the 2018 and 2020 waves of the China Family Panel Studies. We used latent profile analysis to categorise individuals' internet usage patterns and multiple linear regression to determine their association with depressive symptoms. Results: Higher socioeconomic status (SES) was associated with fewer depressive symptoms (τ = -0.08; 95% confidence interval (CI) = -0.36, -0.18). Individuals in the high-dependence group presented a greater likelihood of developing depressive symptoms (τ = 0.04; 95% CI = 0.007, 0.66). We observed no significant difference in the interaction effect between individual-level SES and the four patterns of internet usage. However, compared with urban-dwelling respondents, those in rural areas had a stronger association between internet usage patterns and depressive symptoms, especially those in the high-dependence group (τ = -0.07; 95% CI = -1.47, -0.20). Conclusions: Our findings indicate a significant association between depressive symptoms and internet usage patterns, indicating a need for interventions related to internet use, especially those targeted at reducing the risk of depressive symptoms in individuals of lower SES.

The impact of Internet use and involvement on residents' attitudes to healthcare in China: A propensity score matching analysis.

The recent surge in Internet growth has significantly altered how residents obtain health information and services, underscoring the need to investigate its impact on healthcare perceptions. However, current studies often fail to distinguish between Internet use and involvement, as well as the diverse range of healthcare stakeholders, resulting in incomplete and inconsistent understanding. To address this, this study utilized data from the 2018 China Family Panel Study (CFPS 2018), categorizing attitudes toward healthcare into three dimensions: doctor trust, satisfaction with medical institutions, and perception of systemic healthcare issues. Employing propensity score matching (PSM) to control for thirteen confounding variables, this study examined the Internet's impact on public attitudes toward healthcare among similar demographic, psychological, and health-related variables. Results revealed that both Internet use and involvement affect residents' attitudes toward healthcare to some extent, with involvement having a more pronounced effect. While Internet use increased the perception of systemic healthcare issues, Internet involvement enhanced doctor trust, yet reduced satisfaction with medical institutions and exaggerated the perception of systemic healthcare issues. These findings have significant theoretical and practical implications. They enhance the comprehension of diverse levels and purposes of Internet use, thereby advancing our knowledge of its multi-faced influence on public attitudes toward healthcare. Furthermore, they offer insights for medical institutions to improve service quality, assist Internet media in optimizing information delivery, and illuminate the implications for residents who effectively use the Internet to assess health information.

Cognitive functioning and sustained internet use amid the COVID-19 pandemic: longitudinal evidence from older adults in Switzerland.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between pre-pandemic objective and subjective cognitive functioning and sustained Internet use during the pandemic among older adults in Switzerland. Data from 1299 respondents of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) in 2019/2020 and a supplementary technology use questionnaire during the pandemic in 2021 were used. Cognitive functioning was assessed in 2019/2020 through objective measures (delayed and immediate memory, verbal fluency) and self-rated memory. Sustained Internet use was defined as having used the Internet at least once in the past seven days in 2019/2020 and reporting daily or weekly use in 2021. We found that 73.1% of respondents consistently used Internet between 2019/2020 and 2021. Using multivariable probit regression models controlling for sociodemographic and health variables, we found that higher global cognition z-scores, especially in immediate and delayed memory, were associated with a higher likelihood of sustained Internet use. Additionally, respondents with good, very good, or excellent self-rated memory were more likely to sustain their Internet use. These findings highlight the potential critical role of cognitive health in shaping older adults' digital engagement, suggesting that cognitive assessments and training should be further considered in digital literacy initiatives for this population.

Aging wisely: The impact of Internet use on older adults' mental health.

This study aims to explore the impact of Internet use on the mental health of older adults and its pathway mechanisms and to provide a theoretical basis and practical guidance for improving the mental health of older adults and better realizing active aging. Using cross-sectional data from the 2020 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey, 6722 older adults over 60 were finally included. We conducted descriptive and correlation analyses of the data; we analyzed the correlation of Internet use on the depression level and cognitive ability of older adults using seemingly unrelated regression; we further explored the mediating role of socialization frequency in the relationship between Internet use and the depression level and cognitive ability of older adults and its differences through mediation analysis. The results showed that the mean age of older adults in this study was (68.52 ± 5.97), the mean Internet use score was (1.12 ± 1.63), the mean depression score was (8.44 ± 6.31), and the mean cognitive score was (12.17 ± 3.27). Internet use had a positive impact on the mental health of older adults, including lowering depression (ß = -0.275, P < 0.05) and improving cognition (ß = 0.300, P < 0.05). Socialization frequency mediated the relationship between Internet use and depression/cognitive ability (95 % CI = -0.034 to -0.008, 95 % CI = 0.007-0.022). Therefore, it is essential to encourage older adults to use the Internet, actively integrate into the digital society, promote wise aging, share the fruits of technological development, and utilize the Internet to maintain the mental health of older adults.

The impact of internet usage preferences on labor income: Evidence from China.

BACKGROUND: The widespread application and iterative updating of computers and Internet communication technologies have not only increased productivity and enhanced intra- and inter-enterprise collaboration, but have also led to significant changes in the labor market and residents' labor income. In the digital era, accepting digital technology and possessing a certain degree of digital literacy have become the necessary abilities for people to survive and develop. However, the differences in digital literacy caused by individual differences will inevitably bring about a series of chain reactions. Therefore, it is necessary to study the subtle impact of Internet usage preference on residents' labor income in the context of digital transformation to promote digital equity. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to empirically analyze micro-level survey data to reveal the impact of individual differences in internet usage preferences on their labor income. The findings provide theoretical references for government policy formulation and individual development. METHODS: A function model was established to analyze the impact of individual internet usage preferences on labor income. Relevant data from the authoritative Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS2017) were selected, and empirical analyses for significance, heterogeneity, and robustness were conducted using the ZINB and CMP models in the Stata statistical software. CONCLUSION: (1) Higher Internet Usage Frequency (IUF) increases the likelihood of higher income. (2) Engaging in Online Social Networking (OSN) helps in accumulating social capital, leading to higher labor income. Meanwhile, participating in Online Entertainment (OE) relieves work and life stresses, thereby increasing labor income. Proficiency in Accessing Online Information (AOI) is associated with higher labor income, while frequent involvement in Online Business (OB) is correlated with higher personal income. Additionally, the Marginal utility of these internet usage preferences indicate that OB > AOI > OSN > OE. (3) Individual variations in physical, psychological, and social characteristics significantly influence the labor income effects of internet usage preferences. (4) There are substantial differences in the labor income effects of internet usage preferences between urban and rural areas and across different regions. (5) Education attainment has a positive mediating effect on the labour income effect of individual Internet use preferences, and enhancing residents' digital literacy has a positive effect on increasing their labour income and alleviating inequality in digital gains. (6) The popularity of Internet technology is the background that triggers an individual's Internet use, and the acceptance of a particular Internet technology is catalyzed by an individual's perception of the value and difficulty of mastering that technology; an individual's biased learning or proficiency in a particular Internet technology in order to gain higher competitiveness and value in the labour market is an important internal driving force.

Can internet use promote farmers to adopt chemical fertilizer reduction and efficiency enhancement technology in China?-an empirical analysis based on endogenous switching probit model.

This study examines the impact of internet usage on farmer's adoption behavior of fertilizer reduction and efficiency enhancement technologies in China. Based on 1,295 questionnaires in Henan Province, this study constructs a counterfactual analysis framework and used endogenous switching probit model to analyze the effects and pathways of internet usage on farmer's adoption behavior of chemical fertilizer reduction and efficiency enhancement technologies. The results indicate that. (1) The proportion of farmers adopting chemical fertilizer reduction and efficiency enhancement technologies is 60.15%, while the proportion of farmers not adopting these technologies is 39.85%. (2) Internet usage directly influences farmers' adoption of fertilizer reduction and efficiency enhancement technologies. According to counterfactual assumption analysis, if farmers who currently use the Internet were to stop using it, the probability of them adopting these technologies would decrease by 28.09%. Conversely, for farmers who do not currently use the Internet, if they were to start using it, the probability of them adopting fertilizer reduction and efficiency enhancement technologies would increase by 40.67%. (3) Internet usage indirectly influences farmers' adoption behavior through mediating pathways of expected benefits and risk perception. In addition, social networks negatively moderate the impact of internet usage on farmers' behavior of chemical fertilizer reduction and efficiency enhancement technologies.

Multilevel Determinants of Long COVID and Potential for Telehealth Intervention.

Background: Post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) syndrome, or long COVID, has a variety of symptoms, but little is known about the condition. This study evaluated the association between individual factors, social determinants of health, and the likelihood of long COVID by assessing internet usage as an indicator of viable access to telehealth. Methods: Data from the 2022 National Health Interview Survey identified adults who (1) reported a previous COVID-19-positive test and/or diagnosis and (2) experienced long COVID. A 2-stage selection model predicted COVID-19 infection in the first stage and long COVID in the second stage. To test the potential use of telehealth, binary dependent variable regression evaluated internet usage among respondents with long COVID. Results: About 40% (N=10,318) of respondents had tested positive/been diagnosed with COVID-19, but less than 20% of them (N=1797) had long COVID. Although older respondents were less likely to have COVID (odds ratio [OR]=0.48; 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.44, 0.53), they were more likely to experience long COVID (OR=1.63; CI=1.37, 1.93). Relative to White individuals, Black individuals were less likely to have COVID (OR=0.78; CI=0.69, 0.89) but significantly more likely (OR=1.21; CI=1.09, 1.64) to experience long COVID. Long COVID was also more likely among low-income earners (first income-to-poverty ratio quartile OR=1.40, CI=1.14, 1.72; second income-to-poverty ratio OR=1.37, CI=1.14, 1.64) and those without a college degree (OR=1.42; CI=1.01, 1.66). There were no statistically significant differences in internet access between racial, geographic, or income groups. Conclusion: Long COVID is significantly more likely among Black individuals and low-income households than among their counterparts, but with few recourses available, telehealth service delivery could be a feasible intervention mechanism.

Associations between personality and problematic internet use among Chinese adolescents and young adults: A network analysis.

BACKGROUND: With the number of internet users booming, problematic internet use (PIU) has become a public health threat. This study aims to figure out the inter-relationships between PIU symptoms and personality traits with network-based analysis among young people and to discuss the gender difference in the above networks. METHODS: Based on a national cross-sectional study in 2022, 4655 Chinese adolescents and young adults aged 14 to 25 were included. We adopted the 6-item Short-Form Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire (PIUQ-SF-6) and the 10-item version of the Big Five Inventory (BFI-10) to measure PIU and personality traits, respectively. Network analysis was used to identify influential nodes and edges and compare the network models between male and female participants. RESULTS: The mean age of 4655 participants was 19.84, and 52.1 % (2424) of them were females. There are differences in age and gender between participants with and without PIU (P < 0.05). The network of personality and PIU showed that 22 out of the 28 edges were estimated to be nonzero, and "obsession-neuroticism" was the strongest positive edge between the two communities. Central symptoms (i.e., "obsession" and "control disorder") and bridge symptoms (i.e., "obsession" and "neuroticism") have been identified. Gender differences existed in network global strength: female = 3.71, male = 3.18 (p < 0.001). LIMITATIONS: The cross-sectional study needs more evidence to build causal inference. CONCLUSIONS: The results of PIU-personality networks may contribute to the personalized prevention and treatment of PIU. The gender difference in PIU-personality networks also requires more attention and discussion.

Problematic Internet Use and Personality Traits: Results in Working Age Adults.

INTRODUCTION: Problematic Internet use has become a growing problem worldwide; several factors, including personality, play an essential role in understanding this disorder. The Big Five personality traits and their association with problematic Internet use were examined in a large and diverse population. METHODS: A survey was applied to a total of 1,109 adults of working age. Each answered the Big Five Inventory and the Internet Addiction Test. RESULTS: Problematic Internet use was found in 10.6% of them (n=112). The personality traits extraversion and openness to experience were significantly associated with those with the disorder. With adjustment models, a positive association was found between these traits and being single and higher education. CONCLUSIONS: This study represents the largest of its kind in the Spanish-speaking population, highlighting the importance of recognising the factors involved in problematic Internet use.

Relationship and mechanisms between internet use and physical exercise among middle- and younger-aged groups.

The "Internet Plus" era has established a closer connection between sports and individuals. This study used data from the 2018 China Family Panel Studies and focused on the middle- and younger-aged population aged 15 to 59 years. Employing a negative binomial regression model, this study empirically analyzed the impact of Internet use on physical exercise and its internal mechanisms among this population. The findings revealed that (1) Internet use significantly promoted physical exercise in the middle- and younger-aged population, with the frequency of physical exercise increasing to 1.549 times the original value; (2) The positive effects of the internet on physical exercise outweighed the negative effects, with online learning and entertainment enhancing physical exercise and online socialization limiting it. Specifically, online learning and entertainment increased the frequency of physical exercise among the middle- and younger-aged population by 0.063 and 0.018, respectively. Online socialization reduced the frequency by 0.023; and (3) The influence of internet use on physical exercise varies; significantly, it positively affects the exercise frequency among individuals over 35 years old and shows a positive correlation with employment status, including both employed individuals and those out of the labor market. The positive role of Internet use in encouraging physical exercise participation among the middle- and young-aged groups should be valued and enhanced.

Internet use and frailty in middle-aged and older adults: findings from developed and developing countries.

BACKGROUND: With increasing trend of internet use in all age groups, whether internet use can prevent frailty in middle-aged and older adults remains unclear. METHODS: Five cohorts, including Health and Retirement Study (HRS), China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), English Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSA), and Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS), were used in this study. Internet use, social isolation, and frailty status was assessed using similar questions. The Generalized estimating equations models, random effects meta-analysis, COX regression, and mediation analysis were utilized. RESULTS: In the multicohort study, a total of 155,695 participants were included in main analysis. The proportion of internet use was varied across countries, ranging from 5.56% in China (CHARLS) to 83.46% in Denmark (SHARE). According to the generalized estimating equations models and meta-analysis, internet use was inversely associated with frailty, with the pooled ORs (95%CIs) of 0.72 (0.67,0.79). The COX regression also showed that participants with internet use had a lower risk of frailty incidence. Additionally, the association was partially mediated by social isolation and slightly pronounced in participants aged 65 and over, male, not working for payment, not married or partnered, not smoking, drinking, and not co-residence with children. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the important role of internet use in preventing frailty and recommend more engagements in social communication and activities to avoid social isolation among middle-aged and older adults.

Impact of mobile Internet use on health-seeking behaviors: evidence from China.

Introduction: Although health-seeking behaviors are crucial to China's healthcare delivery system, the influence of mobile Internet use in this context remains under-explored. This study aimed to comprehensively explore the influence of mobile Internet use on health-seeking behaviors, and meticulously examined the heterogeneity in health outcomes associated with the intersection between mobile Internet use and health-seeking behaviors. Methods: We used nationally representative data derived from the China Family Panel Studies. Given that individuals typically make the decision to use mobile Internet autonomously, an instrumental variable regression methodology was adopted to mitigate potential selection biases. Results: Our findings revealed that mobile Internet use significantly promoted self-medication and adversely affected the use of primary care facilities among Chinese adults. Furthermore, our findings highlighted the heterogeneous effects of mobile Internet use across diverse health demographic groups. Conclusion: These findings underscore the importance of strategic planning and utilizing mobile Internet resources to steer individuals toward more appropriate healthcare-seeking behaviors.

Does internet use benefit health?-PSM-DID evidence from China's CHARLS.

Amid the increasing global internet penetration, understanding the impact of internet use on residents' health is crucial. This aids in formulating more effective health policies and provides empirical evidence for promoting health equity and improving overall public health. Drawing on the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), this paper employs the Propensity Score Matching-Difference in Differences (PSM-DID) method to examine the impact of the internet on individual health and further explores the pathways through which the internet affects health. We introduce the research background and significance in the introduction. Then, in the theoretical analysis, it incorporates internet variables into the Becker health demand model to analyze changes in health demand and impact pathways. The empirical analysis tests the theoretical findings, leading to empirical results. Finally, the study discusses the results and provides relevant recommendations. The findings indicate significant positive effects of the internet on both physical and psychological health. These effects are realized through reducing health information asymmetry, lowering health costs, and increasing exposure to health-promoting environments. In the heterogeneity analysis, economic-related internet content shows a significant positive impact on resident health. Intensive internet use adversely affects psychological health. The beneficial effects of the internet on health are more pronounced among older individuals, those covered by medical insurance, and regions with higher levels of digital economy. Based on these findings, the study offers policy recommendations concerning individuals' internet use patterns, the digital evolution of the healthcare industry, and government infrastructure development.

Similarities and differences in the psychological factors associated with generalised problematic internet use, problematic social media use, and problematic online gaming.

Problematic online behaviours are a concern among university students. Although previous research has identified that psychological distress, cognitive distortions, conscientiousness and neuroticism traits, motor impulsivity, and emotion regulation strategies have a significant direct effect on generalised problematic Internet use (GPIU), problematic social media use (PSMU), and problematic online gaming (POG), it is still necessary to determine the extent to which these psychological factors, taken together, are associated with each of the problematic online behaviours. In a sample of 690 Spanish university students, the present study examined the relationship of these psychological factors with GPIU, PSMU, and POG. Correlation and regression analyses were performed. Results reported that (1) high psychological distress, low conscientiousness trait and high motor impulsivity were common associated factors of GPIU and PSMU, but not of POG; (2) high levels of cognitive distortions and cognitive reappraisal were common associated factors of GPIU, PSMU and POG; and (3) expressive suppression and neuroticism trait had no effect on any of the three problematic online behaviours. The findings will help to develop effective prevention and intervention strategies for each problematic online behaviour in the university context.