The effects of online media use on the mental health of Chinese older adults: A multiple indicators multiple causes (MIMIC) model

Online media has become an increasingly important part of older adults' daily lives in the digital era. This study aims to examine the effects of online media use and its frequency on the mental health of older adults in China, with a particular focus on the mediating role of life satisfaction. Using data from the 2020 wave of the China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (CLASS), this study analyzed a nationally representative sample of 3118 Chinese older adults. A multiple indicators multiple causes (MIMIC) model was employed to assess the impact of both online media use types and usage frequency on mental health. Further mediation analysis was conducted to investigate whether life satisfaction mediates these relationships. Sensitivity analyses were performed using different estimators (maximum likelihood (ML), asymptotic distribution free (ADF), and generalized structural equation model (GSEM)), and robustness was tested with 2016 and 2018 CLASS data. Findings show that both online media use and online media use frequency are significantly and positively associated with mental health among Chinese older adults. Specifically, informational media (e.g. News reading app), entertainment platforms (e.g. TikTok and Kwai), and utility tools (e.g. Alipay and Taobao) exhibit strong positive effects, with news reading app showing the most prominent impact. A dose-response pattern was observed: older adults who engage with online media more frequently report better mental health outcomes. Notably, life satisfaction serves as a significant mediator in these relationships, accounting for 12.8% of the total effect of media use and 5.4% of the effect of use frequency on mental health. Online media use, especially frequent engagement with digital platforms, enhances older adults' mental health, not only directly but also indirectly by improving life satisfaction. These results offer valuable empirical evidence for understanding the mechanisms through which digital participation promotes psychological wellbeing in later life and highlight the importance of fostering digital literacy and inclusive media environments for the aging population.