New Elderly, Digital Future, and Intergenerational Support

As individuals born in the 1960s (the “New Elderly”) increasingly engage in digital consumption, their behaviors are playing a pivotal role in shaping China’s silver economy. This study explores how intergenerational support influences digital health consumption among the New Elderly, emphasizing the mediating role of mobile phone proficiency. Using survey data from 154 respondents born between 1960 and 1969, results show that intergenerational support positively promotes digital health consumption; however, excessive support negatively affects mobile phone proficiency, creating a suppressing effect that reduces overall digital engagement. The findings suggest that balanced intergenerational support is crucial to enhancing technological autonomy and effective digital health adoption. Policymakers should therefore encourage moderate, rather than excessive, intergenerational assistance.