{"title":"The impact of Internet use on cognitive function in older adults: Based on the cognitive reserve hypothesis.","authors":"Ying Deng, Li Liu, Qian Yang, Tong Yu","doi":"10.1177/13591053251371788","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>With population aging accelerating, cognitive decline and high dementia prevalence among older adults pose significant challenges to active aging. The widespread use of the internet offers cognitive stimulation and social interaction, potentially improving cognitive function. Using 2020 China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey data, this study analyzes the impact of internet use on older adults' cognitive function. Results show that this study found a significant positive correlation between internet use and cognitive function in older adults (<i>p</i> < 0.01). Social interaction partially mediates this effect, with social support, social networks, and social participation contributing 2.2%, 1.3%, and 6.9%. The education level, exercise frequency, and job complexity significantly attenuate the positive effect of internet use on cognitive function in older adults. This study offers empirical support for the cognitive reserve and active aging theories. Future efforts should enhance internet training for older adults, improve age-friendly platforms, and bridge the urban-rural digital divide.</p>","PeriodicalId":51355,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Health Psychology","volume":" ","pages":"13591053251371788"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2000,"publicationDate":"2025-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Health Psychology","FirstCategoryId":"102","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1177/13591053251371788","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
With population aging accelerating, cognitive decline and high dementia prevalence among older adults pose significant challenges to active aging. The widespread use of the internet offers cognitive stimulation and social interaction, potentially improving cognitive function. Using 2020 China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey data, this study analyzes the impact of internet use on older adults' cognitive function. Results show that this study found a significant positive correlation between internet use and cognitive function in older adults (p < 0.01). Social interaction partially mediates this effect, with social support, social networks, and social participation contributing 2.2%, 1.3%, and 6.9%. The education level, exercise frequency, and job complexity significantly attenuate the positive effect of internet use on cognitive function in older adults. This study offers empirical support for the cognitive reserve and active aging theories. Future efforts should enhance internet training for older adults, improve age-friendly platforms, and bridge the urban-rural digital divide.
期刊介绍:
ournal of Health Psychology is an international peer-reviewed journal that aims to support and help shape research in health psychology from around the world. It provides a platform for traditional empirical analyses as well as more qualitative and/or critically oriented approaches. It also addresses the social contexts in which psychological and health processes are embedded. Studies published in this journal are required to obtain ethical approval from an Institutional Review Board. Such approval must include informed, signed consent by all research participants. Any manuscript not containing an explicit statement concerning ethical approval and informed consent will not be considered.