跨越数字鸿沟：数字反哺对老年人生活质量的影响研究

Bridging the Digital Divide: A Study on the Impact of Digital Reverse Mentoring on Older Adults’ Quality of Life

摘要: 在人口老龄化与数字化转型双重背景下，数字反哺成为弥合老年数字鸿沟、提升生活质量的重要路径。本文基于2023年中国老年社会追踪调查(CLASS)数据，构建了涵盖身体健康、心理健康、生活满意度与社会参与的多维生活质量指标，实证检验了数字反哺对老年人生活质量的影响及其作用机制。研究发现：第一，数字反哺显著提升了老年人的生活质量。第二，机制分析表明，数字反哺通过提升代际关系、改善老化态度与提高自我效能感，进而提升老年人生活质量。第三，异质性分析显示，数字反哺对中西部地区和共同居住老年人的生活质量提升作用更为显著，而对东部地区和独立居住老年人的效应不显著。研究结论为激活家庭数字反哺功能、补齐中西部地区数字公共服务短板、创设独立居住老年人替代性反哺机制提供了经验依据，对促进积极老龄化和数字包容社会建设具有政策启示。

Abstract: Against the backdrop of population aging and digital transformation, digital reverse mentoring has emerged as a critical pathway to bridging the digital divide among older adults and enhancing their quality of life. Drawing on data from the 2023 China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (CLASS), this study constructs a multidimensional quality of life indicator encompassing physical health, mental health, life satisfaction, and social participation, and empirically examines the effects of digital reverse mentoring on older adults’ quality of life and its underlying mechanisms. The findings are threefold. First, digital reverse mentoring significantly improves older adults’ quality of life. Second, mechanism analysis reveals that digital reverse mentoring enhances quality of life through three mediating channels: improving intergenerational relationship, ameliorating aging attitudes, and strengthening self-efficacy. Third, heterogeneity analysis indicates that the positive effects of digital reverse mentoring are more pronounced among older adults residing in central and western regions and those living with family members, whereas the effects are not statistically significant for their counterparts in eastern regions or those living independently. These findings provide empirical support for activating family-based digital reverse mentoring, addressing the deficit in digital public services in central and western regions, and establishing alternative mentoring mechanisms for older adults living independently. The study offers policy implications for promoting active aging and fostering a digitally inclusive society.