Exploring Rural–Urban Differences in the Association Between Internet Use and Cognitive Functioning Among Older Adults in China

Abstract Objectives We examine rural–urban differences between internet use and cognitive functioning among older Chinese adults and the mediating role of perceived social support networks across rural and urban areas. Methods Data were from the 2016 and 2018 waves of the Chinese Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (N = 9,591). Ordinary least squares regression and mediation analyses were used to examine the specific hypotheses. Results General internet use was significantly associated with improved cognitive functioning among older adults in the overall sample. Social support networks mediated the relationship between general internet use and cognitive functioning, but only for older adults living in rural areas. After disaggregating internet use into specific online activities, watching shows was associated with better cognitive functioning for older adults living in urban areas. For those in rural areas, chatting was positively associated with cognitive functioning, while playing games was negatively associated with cognitive functioning. Discussion We showed that social support mediates the relationship between internet use and cognitive functioning differently in rural and urban areas. Cognitive benefits derived from specific types of online activities also depend on their residence. These findings suggest that efforts aimed at improving internet use among rural older adults may be more fruitful if they focus on building social opportunities for older adults.