From technology to care: smart wearables and the subjective well-being of Chinese older adults

Population aging is accelerating worldwide, making the promotion of subjective well-being among older adults an increasingly urgent social priority. This study examines the association between smart wearables and life satisfaction among older adults in China and explores the underlying mechanisms and contextual factors shaping this relationship. Using panel data from 2018 and 2020 waves of China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (CLASS), the study employs fixed-effects models to estimate this relationship. Our results show that older adults who own smart wearables report significantly higher life satisfaction. Mediation analyses further reveal three potential pathways: increased physical activity, reduced medical expenditure burden, and enhanced social adaptability. Moreover, the positive association is stronger among older adults with fewer traditional support resources, including rural residents, those with weaker family ties and lacking community activity facilities, and those living in cities without elderly care pilot programmes. These findings highlight the broader role of smart wearables in supporting later-life well-being and suggest their potential as a digital resource for addressing inequalities in aging societies.