What does this research mean for the field?

The development of the digital economy in China significantly improves residents' self-rated health, increases subjective well-being, and reduces depressive tendencies, with the greatest benefits observed among socially disadvantaged groups and in less-developed regions. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

Assess the impact of city-level digital economy development on residents' health in China and explore the mediating roles of subjective well-being, depressive symptoms, and physical activity.

September 8, 2026BMC Public HealthOpen Access

From digital growth to health benefits: assessing the impact of digital economy development on residents’ health in China

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Authors

XYXuhan Yang WLWenhao Ling

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Overview

Panel study demonstrates that digital economic growth improves physical and mental health in Chinese residents, suggesting technology expansion can reduce regional health disparities.

Key Points

Assess the impact of city-level digital economy development on residents' health in China and explore the mediating roles of subjective well-being, depressive symptoms, and physical activity.
Linked a city-level digital economy development index with longitudinal survey data from the 2016, 2018, and 2020 waves of the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS).
Estimated effects using a two-way fixed effects regression model, with robustness tested via instrumental variable analysis, propensity score matching, and alternative model specifications.
Each 1% increase in the city-level digital economy index increased residents' self-rated health scores by approximately 0.255%, with a 1-SD increase (0.981) yielding a 0.25-unit improvement.
Digital economy growth was significantly associated with higher subjective well-being and lower depressive tendencies, translating into improved self-rated health.
Physical activity participation strengthened the positive association between digital economic growth and health, with effects being most pronounced among socially disadvantaged groups and less-developed regions.

Cite This Study

Yang et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a9fd82f58e84d0ff5b477d4 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-026-28592-7

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September 8, 2026BMC Public HealthOpen Access

From digital growth to health benefits: assessing the impact of digital economy development on residents’ health in China

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

XYXuhan Yang WLWenhao Ling

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

Panel study demonstrates that digital economic growth improves physical and mental health in Chinese residents, suggesting technology expansion can reduce regional health disparities.

Key Points

Assess the impact of city-level digital economy development on residents' health in China and explore the mediating roles of subjective well-being, depressive symptoms, and physical activity.
Linked a city-level digital economy development index with longitudinal survey data from the 2016, 2018, and 2020 waves of the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS).
Estimated effects using a two-way fixed effects regression model, with robustness tested via instrumental variable analysis, propensity score matching, and alternative model specifications.
Each 1% increase in the city-level digital economy index increased residents' self-rated health scores by approximately 0.255%, with a 1-SD increase (0.981) yielding a 0.25-unit improvement.
Digital economy growth was significantly associated with higher subjective well-being and lower depressive tendencies, translating into improved self-rated health.
Physical activity participation strengthened the positive association between digital economic growth and health, with effects being most pronounced among socially disadvantaged groups and less-developed regions.

Cite This Study

Yang et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a9fd82f58e84d0ff5b477d4 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-026-28592-7

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