Digital Literacy and Its Association With Subjective Health Status and Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Among Korean Older Adults: Cross-Sectional Study
Abstract BackgroundWith an aging population driven by advances in medical technology, digital literacy has become essential for improving the quality of life of older adults, enhancing access to health information, and promoting healthy lifestyles. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pa...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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JMIR Publications
2025-06-01
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| Series: | JMIR Aging |
| Online Access: | https://aging.jmir.org/2025/1/e64974 |
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| author | Soon Young Lee Yejin Kim Bomgyeol Kim Sang Gyu Lee Suk-Yong Jang Tae Hyun Kim |
| author_facet | Soon Young Lee Yejin Kim Bomgyeol Kim Sang Gyu Lee Suk-Yong Jang Tae Hyun Kim |
| author_sort | Soon Young Lee |
| collection | DOAJ |
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Abstract
BackgroundWith an aging population driven by advances in medical technology, digital literacy has become essential for improving the quality of life of older adults, enhancing access to health information, and promoting healthy lifestyles. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic may have influenced the subjective health perceptions and healthy lifestyle behaviors of older adults. However, there is limited research exploring the relationship between digital literacy, subjective health perceptions, and healthy lifestyle behaviors in Korea.
ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate digital literacy’s impact on Korean older adults’ subjective health status and healthy lifestyle behaviors.
MethodsData of 8664 respondents (aged 65 years and older) from the 2020 National Survey of the Older Koreans were analyzed. Digital literacy was measured based on the use of IT devices (ITDs), difficulty using online information, and inconvenience of ITDs. Statistical analyses, such as the Rao-Scott
ResultsRespondents with above-average ITD use (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.73, 95% CI 1.50‐1.99) and less difficulty using online information (aOR 1.41, 95% CI 1.24‐1.61) had higher odds of perceiving themselves as healthy. Conversely, high difficulty using ITDs was associated with lower odds of respondents perceiving themselves as healthy (aOR 0.84, 95% CI 0.82‐0.87). Furthermore, high ITD use predicted engagement in healthy lifestyle behaviors (aOR 1.51, 95% CI 1.33‐1.72), whereas high difficulty using ITDs predicted lower odds of engagement (aOR 0.94, 95% CI 0.92‐0.97). In contrast, there was no difference in the odds of engaging in healthy lifestyle behaviors regardless of difficulty using online information (aOR 1.03, 95% CI 0.92‐1.15).
ConclusionsThis study underscores the significant association between digital literacy and improved health outcomes among older adults. Promotion of digital literacy and relevant policies is essential to help older adults effectively obtain health information online, thereby improving their quality of life and overall health. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-dae1c4cd8b4c4c26ac9b3e9d579d99be |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2561-7605 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JMIR Aging |
| spelling | doaj-art-dae1c4cd8b4c4c26ac9b3e9d579d99be2025-08-20T02:32:48ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Aging2561-76052025-06-018e64974e6497410.2196/64974Digital Literacy and Its Association With Subjective Health Status and Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Among Korean Older Adults: Cross-Sectional StudySoon Young Leehttp://orcid.org/0009-0005-7912-3162Yejin Kimhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-1395-1206Bomgyeol Kimhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-3670-4988Sang Gyu Leehttp://orcid.org/0000-0003-4847-2421Suk-Yong Janghttp://orcid.org/0000-0003-0558-1505Tae Hyun Kimhttp://orcid.org/0000-0003-1053-8958 Abstract BackgroundWith an aging population driven by advances in medical technology, digital literacy has become essential for improving the quality of life of older adults, enhancing access to health information, and promoting healthy lifestyles. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic may have influenced the subjective health perceptions and healthy lifestyle behaviors of older adults. However, there is limited research exploring the relationship between digital literacy, subjective health perceptions, and healthy lifestyle behaviors in Korea. ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate digital literacy’s impact on Korean older adults’ subjective health status and healthy lifestyle behaviors. MethodsData of 8664 respondents (aged 65 years and older) from the 2020 National Survey of the Older Koreans were analyzed. Digital literacy was measured based on the use of IT devices (ITDs), difficulty using online information, and inconvenience of ITDs. Statistical analyses, such as the Rao-Scott ResultsRespondents with above-average ITD use (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.73, 95% CI 1.50‐1.99) and less difficulty using online information (aOR 1.41, 95% CI 1.24‐1.61) had higher odds of perceiving themselves as healthy. Conversely, high difficulty using ITDs was associated with lower odds of respondents perceiving themselves as healthy (aOR 0.84, 95% CI 0.82‐0.87). Furthermore, high ITD use predicted engagement in healthy lifestyle behaviors (aOR 1.51, 95% CI 1.33‐1.72), whereas high difficulty using ITDs predicted lower odds of engagement (aOR 0.94, 95% CI 0.92‐0.97). In contrast, there was no difference in the odds of engaging in healthy lifestyle behaviors regardless of difficulty using online information (aOR 1.03, 95% CI 0.92‐1.15). ConclusionsThis study underscores the significant association between digital literacy and improved health outcomes among older adults. Promotion of digital literacy and relevant policies is essential to help older adults effectively obtain health information online, thereby improving their quality of life and overall health.https://aging.jmir.org/2025/1/e64974 |
| spellingShingle | Soon Young Lee Yejin Kim Bomgyeol Kim Sang Gyu Lee Suk-Yong Jang Tae Hyun Kim Digital Literacy and Its Association With Subjective Health Status and Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Among Korean Older Adults: Cross-Sectional Study JMIR Aging |
| title | Digital Literacy and Its Association With Subjective Health Status and Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Among Korean Older Adults: Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_full | Digital Literacy and Its Association With Subjective Health Status and Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Among Korean Older Adults: Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_fullStr | Digital Literacy and Its Association With Subjective Health Status and Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Among Korean Older Adults: Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Digital Literacy and Its Association With Subjective Health Status and Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Among Korean Older Adults: Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_short | Digital Literacy and Its Association With Subjective Health Status and Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Among Korean Older Adults: Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_sort | digital literacy and its association with subjective health status and healthy lifestyle behaviors among korean older adults cross sectional study |
| url | https://aging.jmir.org/2025/1/e64974 |
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