The Effects of Digital Device Use on Psychological Health and Cognitive Functions in Chinese Older Adults

OBJECTIVES: The study was aimed to explore the effects of digital device use (digital use) on the psychological health and cognitive functions in Chinese older adults. METHODS: Participants (n = 1915) were extracted from the Chinese Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (CLASS) in 2018. The digital use was measured by the use of digital devices in different areas over the internet and their use proficiency. Cognitive functions (mainly orientation and calculation) were evaluated with items from the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), while psychological health was measured by perceived loneliness and life satisfaction. Bayesian structural equation modeling was applied to examine the direct effects of digital device purposes and digital device proficiency on cognitive functions and psychological health (loneliness and life satisfaction) and the mediating effects of psychological health. RESULTS: Use purposes of digital devices positively influenced orientation (β = 0.33, 95% CI: 0.09-0.57) and negatively influenced perceived loneliness (β = -0.41, 95% CI: -0.55 to -0.28); proficiency had positive effect on loneliness (β = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.02-0.44) and negative effect on life satisfaction (β = -0.12, 95% CI: -0.22 to -0.03). Loneliness partially mediated the relationship between digital purposes and orientation (β = 0.07, 95% CI: 0.00-0.15), accounting for only 20% of the total effect. Crucially, loneliness directly impaired cognition, reducing both orientation (β = -0.17, 95% CI: -0.33 to -0.01) and calculation (β = -0.18, 95% CI: -0.31 to -0.06). CONCLUSIONS: Purposeful digital engagement can improve orientation and alleviate loneliness in Chinese older adults. It also helps preserve orientation ability partly by reducing feelings of loneliness, whereas use proficiency may exacerbate loneliness and diminish life satisfaction.