Effects Of Internet Use On Subjective Well-being Among Older Adults:a Chain Mediating Effect Of Loneliness And Attitudes Towards Aging

With the rapid development of China’s economy,the basic living conditions of the elderly have improved significantly,and the needs of the elderly are gradually changing from material needs to spiritual needs.Researchers have strengthened their research on the mental health of the elderly in recent years,with the aim of providing theoretical and practical guidance to enhance the subjective well-being of the elderly.In addition,due to the rapid popularisation and promotion of the Internet,the number of elderly Internet users in China is increasing year by year.The Internet has become an effective way for the elderly to integrate into society and increase their social participation.According to interpersonal interaction theory and the hierarchy of needs theory,the elderly need interpersonal interaction and self-actualisation to reduce their loneliness caused by social factors such as social isolation and intra-individual factors such as declining ego functions,and to build a positive attitude towards ageing This study will therefore focus on the Internet for older people.Therefore,this study will focus on the current situation and characteristics of Internet use,subjective well-being,loneliness and attitudes towards ageing among the elderly,as well as to investigate how Internet use among the elderly affects subjective well-being through loneliness and attitudes towards ageing,using questionnaires and interviews to explore the mechanisms of Internet use and subjective well-being from the perspective of the elderly.The results of this study show that the following are the characteristics of Internet use,subjective well-being,the UCLA Loneliness Scale(3rd edition)and the AAQ.(1)There are significant differences in Internet use,subjective well-being,loneliness and attitudes towards ageing among older people in terms of gender,age and type of occupation;significant differences in Internet use,subjective well-being and attitudes towards ageing among older people in terms of educational attainment;and differences in subjective well-being,loneliness and attitudes towards ageing in terms of marital status.(2)Internet use among the elderly has a negative predictive effect on loneliness,and Internet use among the elderly has a positive predictive effect on attitudes towards ageing;loneliness has a negative predictive effect on attitudes towards ageing and subjective well-being;attitudes towards ageing have a positive predictive effect on subjective well-being.(3)Loneliness and attitudes towards ageing played a fully mediating chain mediating effect between Internet use and subjective well-being among older people.Based on Study 1,Study 2 conducted interviews with 14 older adults in the community of R to explore all aspects of the quantitative study on older adults’ Internet use in depth and to further deepen and add to the relationship between Internet use and subjective well-being.The main findings from the in-depth interviews with older people are as follows.(1)The different functions of Internet use among older people enhance subjective well-being in cognitive and emotional terms.(2)The interviews revealed that the respondents’ attitudes towards internet use among older people were two-sided,with an overall positive attitude towards the internet,believing that it brings more advantages and benefits to life.(3)The interviews revealed that the respondents believed that Internet use by the elderly had reduced loneliness in terms of breaking social distance and increasing participation in social activities,thus enhancing subjective well-being.(4)Interviews revealed that respondents indicated that internet use by older people would enable them to reduce the digital divide and break the information gap,increase their cognitive abilities,etc.,resulting in a more positive attitude towards ageing and thus enhancing subjective well-being.