Date of Award
7-29-2024
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Doctor of Policy Studies (DPS)
First Advisor
Prof. YANG Shen
Abstract
Given the trend of increasing use of information and communication technologies among Chinese elder population, more attention should be drawn on the relationship between social media use and wellbeing of older adults. This research explores the social media use situation among older adults in mainland China as well as its influences on their wellbeing, and employs a mixed approach including quantitative questionnaire distributed via WeChat social media platform and qualitative interview among Chinese older adults who are over 60 years of age in Jingzhou, Hubei Province. Generally speaking, social media use can improve the wellbeing of Chinese older adults, more specifically, WeChat use and Douyin use are associated with better physical situation, lower levels of anxiety, depression, loneliness, and enhanced self-esteem. The findings would contribute to the knowledge of social media use situation among elder Chinese through perspectives like benefits and obstacles, impacts on perceptions of physical health and the psychological health in speaking of aspects like stress, anxiety, depression and self-esteem, and the situation of social media use by Chinese older adults under the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the impacts on them. The results of this research could provide insights for healthcare workers and policy makers in China to build a healthier online social media environment and support the wellbeing of older adults.
Language
English
Copyright
The copyright of this thesis is owned by its author. Any reproduction, adaptation, distribution or dissemination of this thesis without express authorization is strictly prohibited.
Recommended Citation
Dong, X. (2024). Impacts of social media use on the wellbeing of older adults: Evidence from China during the COVID-19 pandemic (doctoral thesis, Lingnan University, Hong Kong). Retrieved from https://commons.ln.edu.hk/otd_tpg/13/
