The impact of internet use on physical activity among Chinese older adults: the mediating role of social support
BackgroundThe positive impact of Internet use on enhancing physical activity among older adults is an important response to the aging problem in the new era. However, while previous studies have explored the important impact of Internet use on physical activity among older adults, the specific mecha...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1492188/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832590504761491456 |
|---|---|
| author | Yifei Shen Yifei Shen Chuntian Lu Bin Wang |
| author_facet | Yifei Shen Yifei Shen Chuntian Lu Bin Wang |
| author_sort | Yifei Shen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundThe positive impact of Internet use on enhancing physical activity among older adults is an important response to the aging problem in the new era. However, while previous studies have explored the important impact of Internet use on physical activity among older adults, the specific mechanisms of this impact have not been much analyzed. In an attempt to answer this question, we further focus on the mediating role of social support in the relationship between Internet use and physical activity among older adults.MethodsThis study utilizes data from the 2021 China General Social Survey (CGSS) to categorize social support into three dimensions: support from relatives, friends, and neighbors. A nested multiple OLS regression model is employed to analyze the impact of internet use on physical exercise among the old adults. Additionally, the SPSS macro PROCESS is used to test the mediation effect, examining the mediating role of social support in this relationship.ResultOur research findings indicate the following: (1) Internet use significantly and positively predicts physical exercise among the old adults; (2) Social support exerts a positive influence on physical exercise in this population; and (3) Social support partially mediates the relationship between internet use and physical exercise among the old adults.ConclusionThe study concludes that increasing Internet penetration among the old adults is of great practical significance in expanding their social support network and promoting physical activity. The results of the study provide new perspectives on the layout of work on ageing and policies for healthy ageing in the new era, as well as lessons for other developing countries on the issue of ageing. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f089f0cf2c944e34957793cb2c908350 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-f089f0cf2c944e34957793cb2c9083502025-01-23T15:59:03ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-01-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.14921881492188The impact of internet use on physical activity among Chinese older adults: the mediating role of social supportYifei Shen0Yifei Shen1Chuntian Lu2Bin Wang3Department of Physical Education, Xidian University, Xi’an, ChinaDepartment of Sociology, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, ChinaDepartment of Sociology, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, ChinaDepartment of Management, Wuxi Institute of Technology, Wuxi, ChinaBackgroundThe positive impact of Internet use on enhancing physical activity among older adults is an important response to the aging problem in the new era. However, while previous studies have explored the important impact of Internet use on physical activity among older adults, the specific mechanisms of this impact have not been much analyzed. In an attempt to answer this question, we further focus on the mediating role of social support in the relationship between Internet use and physical activity among older adults.MethodsThis study utilizes data from the 2021 China General Social Survey (CGSS) to categorize social support into three dimensions: support from relatives, friends, and neighbors. A nested multiple OLS regression model is employed to analyze the impact of internet use on physical exercise among the old adults. Additionally, the SPSS macro PROCESS is used to test the mediation effect, examining the mediating role of social support in this relationship.ResultOur research findings indicate the following: (1) Internet use significantly and positively predicts physical exercise among the old adults; (2) Social support exerts a positive influence on physical exercise in this population; and (3) Social support partially mediates the relationship between internet use and physical exercise among the old adults.ConclusionThe study concludes that increasing Internet penetration among the old adults is of great practical significance in expanding their social support network and promoting physical activity. The results of the study provide new perspectives on the layout of work on ageing and policies for healthy ageing in the new era, as well as lessons for other developing countries on the issue of ageing.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1492188/fullinternet usephysical exercisesocial supportolder adultsmediation analysis |
| spellingShingle | Yifei Shen Yifei Shen Chuntian Lu Bin Wang The impact of internet use on physical activity among Chinese older adults: the mediating role of social support Frontiers in Public Health internet use physical exercise social support older adults mediation analysis |
| title | The impact of internet use on physical activity among Chinese older adults: the mediating role of social support |
| title_full | The impact of internet use on physical activity among Chinese older adults: the mediating role of social support |
| title_fullStr | The impact of internet use on physical activity among Chinese older adults: the mediating role of social support |
| title_full_unstemmed | The impact of internet use on physical activity among Chinese older adults: the mediating role of social support |
| title_short | The impact of internet use on physical activity among Chinese older adults: the mediating role of social support |
| title_sort | impact of internet use on physical activity among chinese older adults the mediating role of social support |
| topic | internet use physical exercise social support older adults mediation analysis |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1492188/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT yifeishen theimpactofinternetuseonphysicalactivityamongchineseolderadultsthemediatingroleofsocialsupport AT yifeishen theimpactofinternetuseonphysicalactivityamongchineseolderadultsthemediatingroleofsocialsupport AT chuntianlu theimpactofinternetuseonphysicalactivityamongchineseolderadultsthemediatingroleofsocialsupport AT binwang theimpactofinternetuseonphysicalactivityamongchineseolderadultsthemediatingroleofsocialsupport AT yifeishen impactofinternetuseonphysicalactivityamongchineseolderadultsthemediatingroleofsocialsupport AT yifeishen impactofinternetuseonphysicalactivityamongchineseolderadultsthemediatingroleofsocialsupport AT chuntianlu impactofinternetuseonphysicalactivityamongchineseolderadultsthemediatingroleofsocialsupport AT binwang impactofinternetuseonphysicalactivityamongchineseolderadultsthemediatingroleofsocialsupport |