Digital use as a mediator of social participation and older adults’ health in China

Introduction Population aging poses health challenges for older adults in China. Social participation may promote healthy aging, but its mechanisms remain unclear, and health is often treated as unidimensional. This study aims to examine the association between social participation and multidimensional health among Chinese older adults, and to test the mediating role of digital use.Theory Based on the social cognition theory, this study will explore the relationship between social participation and the multi-dimensional health of the elderly, and will consider the use of digital technology as a bridge connecting social participation and multi-dimensional health.Methods Using cross-sectional data from 9,652 older adults from the 2020 China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (CLASS), we employed multiple linear regression and mediation analyses. Objective physical health was measured by 21 ADL/IADL items, subjective physical health by self-rated health, and mental health by depressive symptoms. All statistical analyses were performed using STATA 18.0.Results (a) Social participation substantially promoted older adults’ objective physical health (β = 0.017, p < 0.01), subjective physical health (β = 0.011, p < 0.01), and negatively predicted depressive symptoms (β= −0.024, p < 0.01). (b) Digital use is a key mediating mechanism linking social participation to geriatric health status.Discussion Social participation improves older adults’ health through digital use, with effects differing across health dimensions. Policies should promote digital inclusion and tailor interventions to specific health goals. This approach will improve older adults’ quality of life and feelings for happiness.