Association between social network support and smart health device ownership among older adults: Potential parallel mediating pathways through internet use and utilization of family doctor contract services
Abstract
Objective To examine the association between social network support and smart health device ownership among older adults and assess potential parallel mediating pathways through internet use and utilization of family doctor contract services. Methods This cross-sectional study included 10,463 adults aged 60 years or older from the 2023 China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey. Survey-weighted multivariable logistic regression models assessed associations of social network support with smart health device ownership, internet use, and utilization of family doctor contract services. Karlson–Holm–Breen decomposition estimated indirect effects. Interaction tests assessed effect modification by educational attainment and annual personal income group. Sensitivity analyses assessed robustness. Results Greater social network support was associated with higher odds of smart health device ownership (aOR = 1.043, 95% CI 1.029–1.057; P < 0.001). The total indirect effect (aOR = 1.009, 95% CI 1.006–1.013) accounted for 22.73% of the total effect; internet use and utilization of family doctor contract services accounted for 17.22% and 5.50%, respectively. The association varied by educational attainment and annual personal income group ( P for interaction = 0.020 and 0.006, respectively). Sensitivity analyses yielded consistent results. Conclusions Social network support was positively associated with smart health device ownership. Internet use and utilization of family doctor contract services emerged as potential parallel mediating pathways in this association. These findings may inform strategies to promote equitable ownership through stronger social network support, age-friendly internet use, and digital health guidance within family doctor contract services.
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BibTeX
@article{guo2026association,
title = {{Association between social network support and smart health device ownership among older adults: Potential parallel mediating pathways through internet use and utilization of family doctor contract services}},
author = {Fengjiao Guo BA and Jingyi Zhang BA and Zixuan Zhang BA and Zhenfang Wang BA and Yifei Cao MA and Ting Huang MA and Wenqiang Yin PhD and Zhongming Chen PhD and Jinwei Hu MA and Hongwei Guo MA},
journal = {Digital Health},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1177/20552076261500366},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076261500366},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Association between social network support and smart health device ownership among older adults: Potential parallel mediating pathways through internet use and utilization of family doctor contract services
AU - Fengjiao Guo BA
AU - Jingyi Zhang BA
AU - Zixuan Zhang BA
AU - Zhenfang Wang BA
AU - Yifei Cao MA
AU - Ting Huang MA
AU - Wenqiang Yin PhD
AU - Zhongming Chen PhD
AU - Jinwei Hu MA
AU - Hongwei Guo MA
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/23
JO - Digital Health
DO - 10.1177/20552076261500366
UR - https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076261500366
AB - Objective To examine the association between social network support and smart health device ownership among older adults and assess potential parallel mediating pathways through internet use and utilization of family doctor contract services. Methods This cross-sectional study included 10,463 adults aged 60 years or older from the 2023 China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey. Survey-weighted multivariable logistic regression models assessed associations of social network support with smart health device ownership, internet use, and utilization of family doctor contract services. Karlson–Holm–Breen decomposition estimated indirect effects. Interaction tests assessed effect modification by educational attainment and annual personal income group. Sensitivity analyses assessed robustness. Results Greater social network support was associated with higher odds of smart health device ownership (aOR = 1.043, 95% CI 1.029–1.057; P < 0.001). The total indirect effect (aOR = 1.009, 95% CI 1.006–1.013) accounted for 22.73% of the total effect; internet use and utilization of family doctor contract services accounted for 17.22% and 5.50%, respectively. The association varied by educational attainment and annual personal income group ( P for interaction = 0.020 and 0.006, respectively). Sensitivity analyses yielded consistent results. Conclusions Social network support was positively associated with smart health device ownership. Internet use and utilization of family doctor contract services emerged as potential parallel mediating pathways in this association. These findings may inform strategies to promote equitable ownership through stronger social network support, age-friendly internet use, and digital health guidance within family doctor contract services.
SN - 2055-2076
ER -