Exploring rural-urban differences in the association between internet use and cognitive functioning among older adults in China
Objectives: We examine rural–urban differences between internet use and cognitive functioning among older Chinese adults and the mediating role of perceived social support networks across rural and urban areas. Methods: Data were from the 2016 and 2018 waves of the Chinese Longitudinal Aging Social...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2024
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| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10356/180342 |
| _version_ | 1826114390042083328 |
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| author | Yu, Xinfang Ang, Shannon Zhang, Yang |
| author2 | School of Social Sciences |
| author_facet | School of Social Sciences Yu, Xinfang Ang, Shannon Zhang, Yang |
| author_sort | Yu, Xinfang |
| collection | NTU |
| description | Objectives: We examine rural–urban differences between internet use and cognitive functioning among older Chinese adults and the mediating role of perceived social support networks across rural and urban areas. Methods: Data were from the 2016 and 2018 waves of the Chinese Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (N = 9,591). Ordinary least squares regression and mediation analyses were used to examine the specific hypotheses. Results: General internet use was significantly associated with improved cognitive functioning among older adults in the overall sample. Social support networks mediated the relationship between general internet use and cognitive functioning, but only for older adults living in rural areas. After disaggregating internet use into specific online activities, watching shows was associated with better cognitive functioning for older adults living in urban areas. For those in rural areas, chatting was positively associated with cognitive functioning, while playing games was negatively associated with cognitive functioning. Discussion: We showed that social support mediates the relationship between internet use and cognitive functioning differently in rural and urban areas. Cognitive benefits derived from specific types of online activities also depend on their residence. These findings suggest that efforts aimed at improving internet use among rural older adults may be more fruitful if they focus on building social opportunities for older adults. |
| first_indexed | 2025-03-09T11:06:32Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | ntu-10356/180342 |
| institution | Nanyang Technological University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-03-09T11:06:32Z |
| publishDate | 2024 |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | ntu-10356/1803422024-10-02T04:57:06Z Exploring rural-urban differences in the association between internet use and cognitive functioning among older adults in China Yu, Xinfang Ang, Shannon Zhang, Yang School of Social Sciences Social Sciences Perceived social support networks Rurality Objectives: We examine rural–urban differences between internet use and cognitive functioning among older Chinese adults and the mediating role of perceived social support networks across rural and urban areas. Methods: Data were from the 2016 and 2018 waves of the Chinese Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (N = 9,591). Ordinary least squares regression and mediation analyses were used to examine the specific hypotheses. Results: General internet use was significantly associated with improved cognitive functioning among older adults in the overall sample. Social support networks mediated the relationship between general internet use and cognitive functioning, but only for older adults living in rural areas. After disaggregating internet use into specific online activities, watching shows was associated with better cognitive functioning for older adults living in urban areas. For those in rural areas, chatting was positively associated with cognitive functioning, while playing games was negatively associated with cognitive functioning. Discussion: We showed that social support mediates the relationship between internet use and cognitive functioning differently in rural and urban areas. Cognitive benefits derived from specific types of online activities also depend on their residence. These findings suggest that efforts aimed at improving internet use among rural older adults may be more fruitful if they focus on building social opportunities for older adults. 2024-10-02T04:57:06Z 2024-10-02T04:57:06Z 2024 Journal Article Yu, X., Ang, S. & Zhang, Y. (2024). Exploring rural-urban differences in the association between internet use and cognitive functioning among older adults in China. The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 79(4), 1-8. https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbad195 1079-5014 https://hdl.handle.net/10356/180342 10.1093/geronb/gbad195 38147307 2-s2.0-85188032139 4 79 1 8 en The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences © The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com. |
| spellingShingle | Social Sciences Perceived social support networks Rurality Yu, Xinfang Ang, Shannon Zhang, Yang Exploring rural-urban differences in the association between internet use and cognitive functioning among older adults in China |
| title | Exploring rural-urban differences in the association between internet use and cognitive functioning among older adults in China |
| title_full | Exploring rural-urban differences in the association between internet use and cognitive functioning among older adults in China |
| title_fullStr | Exploring rural-urban differences in the association between internet use and cognitive functioning among older adults in China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring rural-urban differences in the association between internet use and cognitive functioning among older adults in China |
| title_short | Exploring rural-urban differences in the association between internet use and cognitive functioning among older adults in China |
| title_sort | exploring rural urban differences in the association between internet use and cognitive functioning among older adults in china |
| topic | Social Sciences Perceived social support networks Rurality |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10356/180342 |
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