Improving life satisfaction of the elders is a critical issue in ensuring social security (Li and He, 2022). According to statistical data, the population aged 60 and above in China has reached up to 267.36 million in 2022, accounting for 18.90% of the total population (The National Bureau of Statistics of China, 2022). It is projected that the number of disabled elderly in China will increase to 61.68 million by 2030 and 97.50 million by 2050 (Zhang et al., 2022). Due to the declining birth rate trend, the home-based care has been weakened, leading to an increased responsibility and caregiving burden for spouses of disable elderly (Ai et al., 2022).
Practitioners and academics have paid much attention to the significance of internet usage on the life satisfaction of older spousal caregivers (Aggarwal et al., 2020). According to the 48th Statistical Report on Internet Development in China released by the China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC), as of June 2021, the total number of internet users in China is projected to reach 1.011 billion, with individuals aged 60 and above constituting 12.2% of this population. The proportion of elderly people utilizing the internet continues to exhibit growth. For older adults, using the Internet can enhance their interpersonal interactions, increase access to community resources, and serve as a bridge for social participation (Forsman and Nordmyr, 2017). However, due to variations in individual circumstances, living environments, and educational abilities among older adults, they may encounter numerous challenges and difficulties when navigating the online realm. Consequently, these individuals referred to as “digital refugees” necessitate increased societal support to effectively harness the convenience of the Internet and seamlessly integrate into the “information age” (Aggarwal et al., 2020).
Aging is an inevitable process in human life. The elderly are not isolated individuals, but rather interconnected with specific social environments (Takahiro et al., 2024). Only through consistent engagement with family, friends, and the surrounding social environment can they establish a proper role identity and effectively demonstrate the value of individual roles. Especially for the older spousal caregivers, they are required to provide constant concern to the disabled elderly throughout the year, sacrificing their own personal freedom and being unable to actively participate in social activities (Mohammadian et al., 2023). Consequently, this leads to a decline in their own sense of identity within societal roles (Zhang et al., 2023). For these individuals, the Internet serves as a practical tool for facilitating social interaction among elderly spouses from diverse backgrounds. However, the majority of existing research on the impact of Internet use on elderly life satisfaction focuses on examining their relationship, neglecting to explore the introduction of mediating variables that could validate this impact. Therefore, this study aims to consolidate relevant theories into three key aspects: intergenerational relationships, interpersonal interactions, and social participation. Building upon this foundation, a theoretical analysis framework is established. Consequently, we pose the following questions:
RQ1
What are the effects of Internet usage on intergenerational relationships, interpersonal connections, and social engagement?
RQ2
Is there a correlation between these factors and the life satisfaction of spousal caregivers of disabled elderly ? Does this correlation exhibit statistical significance?
RQ3
What is the degree and nature of the relationship between Internet usage and the life satisfaction of older spousal caregivers?
According to the Activity of Daily Living Scale (ADLs), the term “disabled elderly” refers to individuals aged 60 years and above who require assistance with at least one of their daily activities, including but not limited to eating, dressing, rising and exiting bed, using the toilet, navigating indoors and outdoors, and taking baths. The term “spousal caregivers of disabled elderly” refers to spouses aged 60 years and above who provide unpaid care, financial support, and emotional assistance to disabled elderly individuals.
The study makes original contributions to the existing literature in five ways. First, it enhances the research findings on Internet usage and deepens our understanding of the relationship between Internet use and life satisfaction among spousal caregivers of disabled elderly. Second, we examine the impact of Internet use on life satisfaction by considering intergenerational relationships, interpersonal relationships, and social participation as mediating variables, thereby emphasizing their influence. Third, we emphasize the contextual factors surrounding Internet use among older spousal caregivers by expanding our investigation into social backgrounds and taking into account both spouses' and caregivers’ cultural levels. Fourth, we propose a model that illustrates how three pathways affect the life satisfaction of spouses of disabled elderly caregivers. Finally, through examining the effects of Internet use on life satisfaction among this group, we put forward two strategies aimed at improving their internet utilization while providing data-driven insights and policy recommendations for decision-makers.
The remainder of the paper is structured as follows. Section 2 provides a literature review. Section 3 describes the methodology we applied. Section 4 analyzes the results. Section 5 we discussed some strategies for promoting Internet use among spousal caregivers of disabled older adults.