THE DIGITAL DIVIDE AMONG CHINESE OLDER ADULTS: INTERNET USAGE AND EHEALTH LITERACY
2024
The Digital Divide Among Chinese Older Adults: Internet Usage and eHealth Literacy
publication
Author Information
Author(s): Zhang Jiaan
Primary Institution: Fudan University
Hypothesis
Older adults in China have lower Internet usage and eHealth literacy compared to younger adults.
Conclusion
Older adults in China significantly lag behind younger adults in both Internet usage and eHealth literacy.
Supporting Evidence
- Only 35.25% of older adults aged 60 and above use the Internet compared to 89.09% of those under 60.
- Younger adults demonstrated significantly higher eHealth literacy scores.
- The negative association between older age and Internet usage is more pronounced among rural residents.
Takeaway
This study shows that older people in China are using the Internet much less than younger people, and they also understand health information online less well.
Methodology
The study used data from the 2021 China General Social Survey, assessing Internet usage and eHealth literacy through surveys and statistical analyses.
Participant Demographics
Chinese older adults aged 60 and above compared to younger adults.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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