Positive impacts of digital capital on self-rated health: reducing disparities across demographic groups with economic capital as a mediator

Digital capital is a vital social determinant of health outcomes, yet few studies have examined its impact across different social groups. This research analyzes the effects of digital capital on self-rated health (SRH) in diverse populations and explores how it influences SRH perceptions. This paper utilizes the China Family Panel Studies database from 2016 to 2022 and includes 42,885 observations to analyze the impact of digital capital on SRH promotion and equity among various groups. The findings suggest that digital capital enhances SRH and reduces health disparities across various groups. Notably, the marginal effects of digital capital are more pronounced for disadvantaged populations, including women, residents of rural areas, individuals from central and western regions, and the elderly. This underscores the potential of digital capital to alleviate health inequalities. Additionally, economic capital mediates the relationship between digital capital and self-rated health. This research offers new empirical evidence that enhances our understanding of the health outcomes linked to digital capital and highlights its role in mitigating health inequalities.