Research on the Impact of Digital Inclusion Among Older Adults on Their Proactive Health Behaviors

Against the backdrop of actively addressing population aging and digitalization, this study employs hierarchical regression estimation to explore the impact of digital inclusion among older adults on their proactive health behaviors and tests the direct effect of self-efficacy on proactive health behaviors. Furthermore, using the Bootstrap mediation effect test, this study further examines the mediation effect of self-efficacy in the process by which digital inclusion among older adults influences their proactive health behaviors. The results indicate: (1) Intermediate and advanced digital inclusion among older adults have significant positive impacts on their proactive health behaviors; (2) self-efficacy exhibits a significant positive influence on proactive health behaviors; (3) self-efficacy serves as a mediator in the positive impact of digital inclusion on proactive health behaviors among older adults. Based on these findings, the following practical suggestions are proposed: (1) Conduct education and training on digital health tools tailored for older adults; (2) establish a social support network for digital health management among older adults; (3) optimize digital health tools and update them to be more elderly-friendly.