Perceived digital convenience and life satisfaction among older adults in China: a moderated mediation model of social adaptation and internet use

Abstract

This study examined the association between perceived digital convenience and life satisfaction among older adults in China, focusing on the mediating role of social adaptation and the moderating role of internet use. Using data from the 2023 China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (CLASS), this cross-sectional study included 10,276 older adults aged 60 years and above. Mediation and moderated mediation models were estimated using the PROCESS macro (Models 4 and 7). The significance of the indirect effects and the index of moderated mediation was tested using bias-corrected bootstrap methods with 5,000 resamples. Perceived digital convenience was positively associated with life satisfaction. A significant indirect association between perceived digitallk digital convenience and life satisfaction through social adaptation was observed. Moreover, internet use moderated the association between perceived digital convenience and social adaptation, such that perceived digital convenience was positively associated with social adaptation among internet users but not among non-users. Accordingly, the indirect association between perceived digital convenience and life satisfaction through social adaptation was significant among internet users but not among non-users. Higher levels of perceived digital convenience were associated with greater life satisfaction among older adults. Social adaptation accounted for part of this association. The indirect association was statistically significant among internet users but not among non-users. These findings underscore the importance of considering social adaptation and internet-use status together when examining the association between perceived digital convenience and life satisfaction among older adults.