BACKGROUND: With the exacerbation of population aging, the health issues of middle-aged and older adults have increasingly become a focus of attention. The widespread use of the internet has created conditions for promoting the health of this demographic. However, little is known about the effects of information access in promoting the relationship between internet use and the health of middle-aged and older adults.
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to examine the relationship between internet use and multidimensional health in middle-aged and older adults, as well as the mediating effect of information access. Moreover, this study will explore the relationship between other dimensions of internet use (purposes and frequency) and health.
METHODS: Data were sourced from the China General Social Survey conducted in 2018. Health outcomes, including self-rated, physical, and mental health, were assessed using the 5-level self-rated health scale, the 5-level basic activities of daily living scale, and the 5-level depression scale, respectively. The ordinal logistic regression model was used to examine the relationship between internet use and health among middle-aged and older adults. Additionally, the Karlson-Holm-Breen decomposition method was used to examine the mediation effect of information access. To address endogeneity issues, the two-stage least squares approach was applied.
RESULTS: In our sample, nearly half (n=3036, 46.3%) of the respondents use the internet. Regression analyses revealed that internet use was positively associated with self-rated health (odds ratio [OR] 1.55, 95% CI 1.39-1.74; P<.001), physical health (OR 1.39, 95% CI 1.25-1.56; P<.001), and mental health (OR 1.33, 95% CI 1.19-1.49; P<.001) of middle-aged and older adults. Various dimensions of internet use positively contribute to health. In addition, information access significantly mediated the relationship between internet use and self-rated health (β=.28, 95% CI 0.23-0.32), physical health (β=.40, 95% CI 0.35-0.45), and mental health (β=.16, 95% CI 0.11-0.20). Furthermore, there were significant differences in the relationship between internet use and health among advantaged and disadvantaged groups.
CONCLUSIONS: The study showed that different dimensions of internet use are associated with better self-rated health, better physical health, and better mental health in middle-aged and older adults. Information access mediates the relationship between internet use and health. This result emphasizes the significance of promoting internet access as a means to enhance the health of middle-aged and older adults in China.

BACKGROUND: The Internet is the preferred source of health information for retrieving relevant information. In Ethiopia, the Internet penetration rate is improving year to year, but it is still at a low level compared to the rest of the world and neighboring African countries. Due to a lack of adequate information, it is important to assess Internet use, spatial variation, and determinants of Internet use among reproductive-age group women in Ethiopia.
METHODS: Secondary data from EDHS 2016 were used to analyze 15,683 women aged 15-49 years. Spatial analysis was performed using ArcGIS 10.7. The Bernoulli model was used by applying Kuldorff\'s methods using SaTScan 10.1.2 software to analyze the purely spatial clusters of Internet use. A multilevel mixed-effect logistic regression was applied to estimate community variance to identify individual- and community-level factors associated with Internet use. All models were fitted in STATA version 17.0, and finally, the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) was reported.
RESULTS: The magnitude of Internet use was 4.97% ± 95% CI (4.63-5.32). The overall average age of women was 24.21 ± 8.06 years, with the age range 15-24 years constituting the larger group (39.2%). Women with secondary and above education [AOR = 6.47; 95% CI (5.04, 8.31)], unmarried [AOR = 2.60; 95% CI (1.89, 3.56)], rich [AOR = 1.95; 95% CI (1.00, 3.80)], own a mobile phone [AOR = 3.74; 95% CI (2.75, 5.09)], media exposure [AOR = 2.63; 95% CI (2.03, 3.42)], and urban [AOR = 1.80; 95% CI (1.08, 3.01)] had higher odds of Internet use. The spatial variation in Internet use was found to be nonrandom (global Moran\'s I = 0.58, p value < 0.001). Fifty-seven primary clusters were identified that were located in Addis Ababa city with a relative likelihood of 10.24 and a log-likelihood ratio of 425.16.
CONCLUSIONS: Internet use among reproductive-age women in Ethiopia is 4.97 and has significant spatial variation across the country. Both community- and individual-level factors affect Internet use in Ethiopia. Therefore, educating women, improving access to media, encouraging women to use family planning, and supporting household wealth could improve women\'s Internet use.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore the relationship between Internet use and intrinsic capability among Chinese older adults, and the potential mediating role of social participation.
METHODS: We verified the correlation between Internet use and intrinsic capacity using multiple linear regression and verified the mediating role of social participation using the Sobel and Bootstrap tests.
RESULTS: The results of multiple linear regression show that there is a significant positive association between Internet use and intrinsic capacity (B = 0.717, p < .001); and social participation plays a mediating role, explaining a total of 20.5% of the association (indirect effect = 0.147, 95% CI: 0.067-0.227).
CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that Internet use significantly improves intrinsic capacity among Chinese older adults, with social participation playing a mediating role. Increasing Internet adoption rates and promoting social participation may help improve intrinsic capacity among older adults.

This study examines the impact of internet usage on farmer\'s adoption behavior of fertilizer reduction and efficiency enhancement technologies in China. Based on 1,295 questionnaires in Henan Province, this study constructs a counterfactual analysis framework and used endogenous switching probit model to analyze the effects and pathways of internet usage on farmer\'s adoption behavior of chemical fertilizer reduction and efficiency enhancement technologies. The results indicate that. (1) The proportion of farmers adopting chemical fertilizer reduction and efficiency enhancement technologies is 60.15%, while the proportion of farmers not adopting these technologies is 39.85%. (2) Internet usage directly influences farmers\' adoption of fertilizer reduction and efficiency enhancement technologies. According to counterfactual assumption analysis, if farmers who currently use the Internet were to stop using it, the probability of them adopting these technologies would decrease by 28.09%. Conversely, for farmers who do not currently use the Internet, if they were to start using it, the probability of them adopting fertilizer reduction and efficiency enhancement technologies would increase by 40.67%. (3) Internet usage indirectly influences farmers\' adoption behavior through mediating pathways of expected benefits and risk perception. In addition, social networks negatively moderate the impact of internet usage on farmers\' behavior of chemical fertilizer reduction and efficiency enhancement technologies.

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The expansion of the rural middle-income group has been a global focus as it contributes to narrowing income gaps and reducing social inequality. Using data from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS), this study examines the impact of Internet use on the mobility of rural low-income groups to the middle-income group from the perspective of income mobility. Controlling for household and provincial-level variables, the results of this study indicate that Internet use significantly promotes the mobility of rural low-income groups to the middle-income group, thereby facilitating the expansion of the rural middle-income group. These conclusions hold even after conducting endogeneity and robustness tests. Mechanism analysis shows that household entrepreneurship and non-agricultural employment are crucial pathways through which Internet use facilitates the mobility of rural low-income groups to middle-income groups. Further investigation shows that mobility from rural low-income to middle-income groups is more difficult in central-western regions and among those with lower levels of education. Internet use exacerbates the \"digital divide\" between different areas and education groups. In particular, the effect of Internet use in promoting mobility from rural low-income to middle-income groups is more pronounced in the eastern regions and among those with higher levels of education. The results of this study provide new evidence on the role of Internet use in expanding the rural middle-income group.

UNASSIGNED: Post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) syndrome, or long COVID, has a variety of symptoms, but little is known about the condition. This study evaluated the association between individual factors, social determinants of health, and the likelihood of long COVID by assessing internet usage as an indicator of viable access to telehealth.
UNASSIGNED: Data from the 2022 National Health Interview Survey identified adults who (1) reported a previous COVID-19-positive test and/or diagnosis and (2) experienced long COVID. A 2-stage selection model predicted COVID-19 infection in the first stage and long COVID in the second stage. To test the potential use of telehealth, binary dependent variable regression evaluated internet usage among respondents with long COVID.
UNASSIGNED: About 40% (N=10,318) of respondents had tested positive/been diagnosed with COVID-19, but less than 20% of them (N=1797) had long COVID. Although older respondents were less likely to have COVID (odds ratio [OR]=0.48; 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.44, 0.53), they were more likely to experience long COVID (OR=1.63; CI=1.37, 1.93). Relative to White individuals, Black individuals were less likely to have COVID (OR=0.78; CI=0.69, 0.89) but significantly more likely (OR=1.21; CI=1.09, 1.64) to experience long COVID. Long COVID was also more likely among low-income earners (first income-to-poverty ratio quartile OR=1.40, CI=1.14, 1.72; second income-to-poverty ratio OR=1.37, CI=1.14, 1.64) and those without a college degree (OR=1.42; CI=1.01, 1.66). There were no statistically significant differences in internet access between racial, geographic, or income groups.
UNASSIGNED: Long COVID is significantly more likely among Black individuals and low-income households than among their counterparts, but with few recourses available, telehealth service delivery could be a feasible intervention mechanism.

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OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the association of body mass index (BMI) with the weekly frequency of moderate-intensity physical activity, eating behavior, and the use of the Internet or games among Korean middle school students.
METHODS: The data of 23,583 Korean middle school students were collected from the 2023 Korean Student Health Examination. The collected data were analyzed using frequency, chi-square, and multivariate logistic regression analyses.
RESULTS: The results also showed that the higher the BMI, the greater the likelihood of moderate-intensity physical activity. The likelihood of breakfast intake reduced as the BMI increased. However, the likelihood of using the Internet or games increased with an increase in BMI. The results revealed that 28% (6594 of 23,583) of middle school students rarely participate in moderate-intensity physical activity, while 32% (7553 of 23,583) participate only once or twice a week. The results also showed that the higher the BMI, the higher the likelihood of moderate-intensity physical activity. Among those who were underweight, the odds ratio (OR) of 3-4 days of participation in moderate-intensity physical activity was 0.764 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.664-0.880; p < 0.001). Among those who were healthy, the OR of more than 5 days of participation was 1.279 (95% CI: 1.131-1.446; p < 0.001). Among those who were overweight, the OR of 3-4 days and more than 5 days of participation was 1.172 (95% CI: 1.019-1.348; p = 0.026) and 1.181 (95% CI: 1.011-1.380; p = 0.036), respectively. The likelihood of the use of the Internet or games increased with an increase in BMI. The OR of the use of the Internet or games was 0.876 (95% CI: 0.806-0.952; p = 0.002) and 0.824 (95% CI: 0.743-0.913; p < 0.001) among those who were healthy and those who were overweight, respectively. However, the likelihood of breakfast intake reduced as the BMI increased. Among those who were underweight, the OR of always eating breakfast and mostly eating breakfast was 1.299 (95% CI: 1.114-1.515; p < 0.001) and 1.236 (95% CI: 1.045-1.461; p = 0.013), respectively. Among those who were healthy, the OR of always eating breakfast was 1.157 (95% CI: 1.026-1.305; p = 0.018). Among those who were overweight, the OR of mostly eating breakfast was 1.215 (95% CI: 1.030-1.433; p = 0.021).
CONCLUSIONS: Given this, outdoor sports may increase adolescents\' participation in physical activities by helping them break away from repetitive ball games and increasing their overall interest and participation in physical activities. Overall, our results suggest the need to move away from traditional physical education and develop engaging physical activity programs that motivate students to participate in moderate-intensity physical activities.

BACKGROUND: Problematic Internet use has become a growing problem worldwide; several factors, including personality, play an essential role in understanding this disorder. The Big Five personality traits and their association with problematic Internet use were examined in a large and diverse population.
METHODS: A survey was applied to a total of 1,109 adults of working age. Each answered the Big Five Inventory and the Internet Addiction Test.
RESULTS: Problematic Internet use was found in 10.6% of them (n=112). The personality traits extraversion and openness to experience were significantly associated with those with the disorder. With adjustment models, a positive association was found between these traits and being single and higher education.
CONCLUSIONS: This study represents the largest of its kind in the Spanish-speaking population, highlighting the importance of recognising the factors involved in problematic Internet use.