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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Frontiers in Public Health

Internet-use frequency, leisure-time exercise, and offline social interaction among older adults in China: rural–non-rural differences

  • Zhengyuan Xu1
  • Doheung Lee2,3
  • Changliang Yan4
4 affiliations
  1. 1Normal Branch of Yanbian University, Yanji
  2. 2Department of Physical Education, College of Education, Seoul National University
  3. 3Seoul National University (SNU) BK21 Four: Training Program for Global Leaders in Sports Science, Seoul National University
  4. 4Department of Physical Education, Northeastern University, Shenyang
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Abstract

Introduction: Internet use may be associated with more active later life, but these associations may differ between rural and non-rural settings and between exercise and social interaction. We examined whether Internet-use frequency was associated with leisure-time physical exercise and offline interaction with friends and neighbors among older adults in China.

Methods: This cross-sectional analysis included 2,284 adults aged 60 years or older from the in-person 2023 Chinese General Social Survey. Weighted regression models adjusted for sociodemographic and health covariates and province; standard errors were clustered by county/district code.

Results: The adjusted overall associations of Internet-use frequency with exercise (B = 0.066; standardized β = 0.062) and offline social interaction (B = 0.115; standardized β = 0.094) were small. The Internet-use frequency × rural-residence interaction for exercise was negative [B = −0.170, 95% CI (−0.256, −0.084), p < 0.001]: the conditional association was positive among non-rural respondents (B = 0.168) and near zero among rural respondents (B = −0.002). The corresponding interaction for offline social interaction was not statistically significant (B = −0.050, p = 0.488).

Discussion: Associations between Internet-use frequency and measured offline activities varied by activity and residence. Cross-sectional, frequency-based measures do not establish causal pathways or explain the contextual difference. A weighted ordinal-logit sensitivity analysis retained the negative exercise interaction, although its evidence was weaker than in the linear model.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{xu2026internetuse,
  title = {{Internet-use frequency, leisure-time exercise, and offline social interaction among older adults in China: rural–non-rural differences}},
  author = {Zhengyuan Xu and Doheung Lee and Changliang Yan},
  journal = {Frontiers in Public Health},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.3389/fpubh.2026.1978975},
  url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1978975/full},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Internet-use frequency, leisure-time exercise, and offline social interaction among older adults in China: rural–non-rural differences
AU  - Zhengyuan Xu
AU  - Doheung Lee
AU  - Changliang Yan
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/14
JO  - Frontiers in Public Health
DO  - 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1978975
UR  - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1978975/full
AB  - Introduction: Internet use may be associated with more active later life, but these associations may differ between rural and non-rural settings and between exercise and social interaction. We examined whether Internet-use frequency was associated with leisure-time physical exercise and offline interaction with friends and neighbors among older adults in China.  Methods: This cross-sectional analysis included 2,284 adults aged 60 years or older from the in-person 2023 Chinese General Social Survey. Weighted regression models adjusted for sociodemographic and health covariates and province; standard errors were clustered by county/district code.  Results: The adjusted overall associations of Internet-use frequency with exercise (B = 0.066; standardized β = 0.062) and offline social interaction (B = 0.115; standardized β = 0.094) were small. The Internet-use frequency × rural-residence interaction for exercise was negative [B = −0.170, 95% CI (−0.256, −0.084), p < 0.001]: the conditional association was positive among non-rural respondents (B = 0.168) and near zero among rural respondents (B = −0.002). The corresponding interaction for offline social interaction was not statistically significant (B = −0.050, p = 0.488).  Discussion: Associations between Internet-use frequency and measured offline activities varied by activity and residence. Cross-sectional, frequency-based measures do not establish causal pathways or explain the contextual difference. A weighted ordinal-logit sensitivity analysis retained the negative exercise interaction, although its evidence was weaker than in the linear model.
SN  - 2296-2565
ER  -