Financial strain, digital health reliance, and medical preferences: a multi-dimensional analysis of Chinese residents

Introduction While the link between financial strain and poor health is well-established, research remains fragmented across isolated indicators and lacks an integrated understanding of how resource scarcity reshapes health-seeking strategies, particularly the use of digital resources and traditional medical systems in non-Western contexts. Methods Utilizing data from the 2021 China General Social Survey (CGSS), this study examines the relationship between financial strain and three connected domains. The empirical analysis employs Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression models to analyze two independent sub-samples of working-age respondents ( N = 623 and N = 592). Assessed variables span physical and psychological health outcomes, preventative behaviors, digital health reliance, and medical system preferences. Results Regression analyses reveal that financial strain is a pervasive stressor that compromises multiple domains of well-being and is associated with significantly lower preventative health investments. In the digital sphere, financial strain is closely linked to a unique reliance on internet-based health resources, which is often accompanied by a lack of regard for information reliability. Moreover, financial strain is significantly associated with a stronger cognitive preference for, and greater behavioral utilization of, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Discussion These findings highlight a unique adaptation strategy where individuals navigate resource scarcity by leveraging digital tools and traditional medical systems. These results have critical implications for health equity, underscoring the need for policies that address digital health literacy and integrate culturally trusted systems into formal primary care.