The impact of ICT use on mental health among the elderly: policy and environmental perspectives

Purpose This study aims to investigate the psychological mechanism linking digital policy, social network environment and older adults’ mental health from an ecological systems perspective. Specifically, it examines how the implementation of digital elderly care policy and the digital environment influence the mental health of the elderly. The study also explores the heterogeneity of these effects across different population segments and regions. Design/methodology/approach Drawing on ecological systems theory, this research constructs a multilevel framework connecting macro-level policy, meso-level digital environment, micro-level digital behavior and individual psychological outcomes. Using panel data from the China Family Panel Studies (China Family Panel Studies, 2014–2022), multiple regression was employed to test direct, indirect, and moderating effects. Findings The findings demonstrate that information and communication technology (ICT) use significantly improves older adults’ mental health and mediates the effect of digital elderly care policy. In contrast, the direct effects of the digital environment on mental health are not statistically significant. Moreover, heterogeneity analyses reveal that digital benefits are more pronounced among urban residents, individuals with chronic conditions and those in eastern China, underscoring the role of digital literacy, access and infrastructure in shaping outcomes. Originality/value This study offers a novel contribution by adopting a policy–environment–individual systems perspective to examine the impact of ICT on older adults’ mental health. By integrating institutional, infrastructural and behavioral levels into one framework, it reveals the pathway through which digital benefits are realized and underscores the importance of aligning policy design with individual engagement.