Digital literacy and subjective well-being among older adults: The chain mediating effect of physical exercise and consumption

Subjective well-being is a key indicator of quality of life and a crucial factor for successful aging among older adults. However, few studies have explored the subjective well-being among older adults from the perspective of digital literacy. Therefore, this study explores the relationship between digital literacy and subjective well-being using data on 4270 older adults from the 2020 China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) dataset. PROCESS mediation analysis results indicated digital literacy is associated with higher subjective well-being among the older adults. Digital literacy was associated with the frequency of physical exercise and consumption. Moreover, Digital literacy can also enhance the subjective well-being among older adults by increasing the frequency of physical exercise, and consumption, and a chain mediator subjective well-being. These findings align with the theoretical framework of digital health literacy. Theory which posits that health information obtained through digital literacy can help older adults better engage in healthy lifestyles, thereby enhancing their quality of life. These findings hold significant practical implications for enhancing the subjective well-being among older adults and advancing the development of successful aging.