| Sumario: | Social isolation, a common challenge for older adults, could cause various adverse outcomes, especially for those in China with limited digital skills. However, few studies have investigated its individual influencing factors, particularly older adults' self-aging attitudes, in the current digital era. The current study aimed to investigate whether and how self-aging attitudes were associated with social isolation among Chinese older adults by proposing a serial mediation model, with internet self-efficacy and social media use serving as mediators. A total of 459 Chinese older adults were randomly selected to participate in this study. Self-aging attitudes, social isolation, internet self-efficacy, and active social media use were measured using the Attitudes to Aging Questionnaire, Lubben Social Network Scale, Internet Self-efficacy Scale, and Surveillance Use Scale of Facebook Use, respectively. Statistical analysis included Pearson correlation and serial mediation effect analysis. The results showed that the proposed serial mediation model was supported: (1) Self-aging attitudes were negatively associated with social isolation; (2) Internet self-efficacy and active social media use functioned as serial mediators. In conclusion, promoting positive self-aging attitudes is an effective strategy for alleviating older adults' social isolation, as it enhances internet self-efficacy and encourages active social media use.
|
|---|