Journal Article

Does internet use benefit health?—PSM-DID evidence from China’s CHARLS

Liao, Yinkai, Luo, Nengsheng

2024

Overview

Amid the increasing global internet penetration, understanding the impact of internet use on residents’ health is crucial. This aids in formulating more effective health policies and provides empirical evidence for promoting health equity and improving overall public health. Drawing on the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), this paper employs the Propensity Score Matching-Difference in Differences (PSM-DID) method to examine the impact of the internet on individual health and further explores the pathways through which the internet affects health. We introduce the research background and significance in the introduction. Then, in the theoretical analysis, it incorporates internet variables into the Becker health demand model to analyze changes in health demand and impact pathways. The empirical analysis tests the theoretical findings, leading to empirical results. Finally, the study discusses the results and provides relevant recommendations. The findings indicate significant positive effects of the internet on both physical and psychological health. These effects are realized through reducing health information asymmetry, lowering health costs, and increasing exposure to health-promoting environments. In the heterogeneity analysis, economic-related internet content shows a significant positive impact on resident health. Intensive internet use adversely affects psychological health. The beneficial effects of the internet on health are more pronounced among older individuals, those covered by medical insurance, and regions with higher levels of digital economy. Based on these findings, the study offers policy recommendations concerning individuals’ internet use patterns, the digital evolution of the healthcare industry, and government infrastructure development.

• Publisher: Public Library of Science,Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subject: Aged / Anxiety / Asymmetric information / Becker, Gary / Biology and Life Sciences / China / Computer and Information Sciences / Consumer goods / Cost analysis / Demand analysis / Digitization / Economic development / Empirical analysis / Fairness / Female / Health care expenditures / Health care industry / Health disparities / Health education / Health information / Health insurance / Health policy / Health promotion / Health services / Health Status / Heterogeneity / Humans / Impact analysis / Industrial development / Infrastructure / Internet / Internet Use - statistics & numerical data / Life expectancy / Loneliness / Longitudinal Studies / Macroeconomics / Male / Medical policy / Medical research / Medicine and Health Sciences / Mental health / Middle Aged / Older people / Penetration / Physicians / Physiology / Propensity / Propensity Score / Psychological well being / Public health / Retirement / Social interaction / Social Sciences / Theoretical analysis