The effect of 5G policy development on self-rated health among Chinese older adults: A quasi-experimental study

Objectives

The Chinese government attaches great importance to the construction of 5th Generation Mobile Communication Technology infrastructure. This study aimed to estimate the effect of the 5G policy development on the self-rated health of older adults in mainland China.

Methods

Using the nationally representative data from the China Family Panel Studies in 2018 and its follow-up in 2020, 2334 participants aged 60 and older were analyzed in our study. We employed the two-way fixed estimator in the difference in difference setting to analyse the SRH of the older adults in the cohort with different development level of the 5G measured by the number of policies, and explore the relative differences before and after the onset of 5G policies. And the heterogeneity and several robustness checks were conducted in the analysis.

Results

After the onset of the 5G policies, the probability of older adults self-rating good health increased by 31% for each unit increase in the development level of 5G policies, after adjusting covariates. And there were notable disparities in age group, gender, and living areas. The improving effect of the 5G policies on SRH was intensified in the younger ones aged 65–74 years, the females, and those living in urban areas.

Conclusions

Our findings showed that the development of 5G policies has a positive role in the SRH of older adults, indicating the health-promoting effects of technological advances. Considering the heterogeneity, more attention and target measures must be taken to help socio-economically disadvantaged groups avoid the digital vicious cycle.