| Sumario: | • Smart wearables at T1 significantly positively predicted social interaction at T2. • Social interaction at T1 significantly positively predicted cognitive function at T2. • Social interaction plays a significant longitudinal mediating role in the relationship between smart wearables and cognitive function. • Smart wearables at T1 significantly positively predicted social interaction at T2 only in the male group. • Social interaction at T1 only significantly positively predicted fluid intelligence at T2, while it had no significant impact on crystallized intelligence. This study aims to explore the longitudinal relationship between the possession of smart wearables (smartwatch/smart wristband) and cognitive function while exploring the mediating role of social interaction. We utilized two waves of data from the China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey, including 9,164 participants aged 60 and above. A cross-lagged model was constructed to estimate the relationships among variables, with Sobel tests assessing mediating effects. Smart wearables at T1 positively predicted social interaction at T2 (β=0.016, p<0.05), while social interaction at T1 positively predicted cognitive function at T2 (β=0.035, p<0.001). The longitudinal mediating effect of social interaction was significant (p<0.05). Heterogeneity analysis revealed gender differences and varying impacts on fluid and crystallized intelligence. A cross-lagged relationship exists among smart wearables, social interaction, and cognitive function, with social interaction serving as a mediator. This study verifies the health effects of smart products, providing insights for gerontechnology development.
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