Alluvial map showing changes in self-assessed health status of older adults due to 5G policy development in different states. Note: The province code is Beijing 11. Tianjin 12; Hebei 13; Shanxi 14; Liaoning 21. Jilin 22; Heilongjiang 23; Shanghai 31; Jiangsu 32; Zhejiang 33; Anhui 34; Fujian 35; Jiangxi 36; Shandong 37; Henan 41; Hubei 42; Hunan 43; Guangdong 44 ; Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 45; Chongqing 50; Sichuan 51; Guizhou 52; Yunnan 53; Shanxi 61; Gansu 62. Credit: global migration (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.glt.2023.08.002
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Alluvial map showing changes in self-assessed health status of older adults due to 5G policy development in different states. Note: The province code is Beijing 11. Tianjin 12; Hebei 13; Shanxi 14; Liaoning 21. Jilin 22; Heilongjiang 23; Shanghai 31; Jiangsu 32; Zhejiang 33; Anhui 34; Fujian 35; Jiangxi 36; Shandong 37; Henan 41; Hubei 42; Hunan 43; Guangdong 44 ; Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 45; Chongqing 50; Sichuan 51; Guizhou 52; Yunnan 53; Shanxi 61; Gansu 62. Credit: global migration (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.glt.2023.08.002
The Chinese government attaches great importance to building the fifth generation mobile communications technology infrastructure (5G). 5G plays a positive role in the health self-assessment of older adults in mainland China, a new study shows, with health status driving the effects of technological advances.
5G development and the health status of China’s elderly
China has built one of the largest and most technologically advanced 5G networks, and 5G industrial applications include the medical and healthcare industry, with the aim of meeting the growing medical and health needs of the population.60 It is integrated into the above national economic categories. However, as 5G is an emerging technology, the impact of 5G on public health at the national level has not been fully elucidated by reliable empirical evidence.
In our study published in global migrationinvestigated the impact of 5G development on self-rated health status (SRH) of older adults with different sociodemographic characteristics in mainland China. Using nationally representative data from the 2018 China Family Panel Survey (CFPS) and 2020 follow-up, we used 5G development as a natural experiment to assess the impact of 5G development on the health of older adults. I’ve understood.
Differences in SRH among older adults in states with different numbers of policies, considering older adults in states that implemented different levels of 5G policies between 2018 and 2020 as the exposure group, and others as the reference group. compared.
Impact of 5G policies on self-assessment of health status among older adults and heterogeneity across age groups, gender, and region of residence. A number of covariates, including age, region, area of residence, marital status, income, employment, chronic disease, depression, and health-related behaviors, were controlled for in the whole sample and subgroup analyses. credit: global migration (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.glt.2023.08.002
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The impact of 5G policies on self-assessment of health status among older adults and heterogeneity across age groups, gender, and region of residence. A number of covariates including age, region, area of residence, marital status, income, employment, chronic disease, depression, and health-related behaviors were controlled for in the whole sample and subgroup analyses. credit: global migration (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.glt.2023.08.002
Health impact of 5G development
Our findings revealed that the development of 5G significantly increased SRH in older adults. After the enactment of the 5G policy, the probability of self-assessed health increased by 31% for each unit increase in the level of development of the 5G policy. There were also notable disparities in terms of age, gender, and region of residence.
The improving effect of 5G policies on SRH was stronger among younger people aged 65–74 years, women, and living in urban areas. The odds of self-assessed health among older adults aged 75 years and older, men, and people living in rural areas also increased after exposure to 5G policies, but this was not statistically significant.
Public health promoted by technological development
To our knowledge, our study is the first to provide new insights into the impact of 5G development on SRH in older adults. The results showed that the development of 5G had a positive effect on SRH among older people, particularly in the 65-74 age group, women’s group, and participants in urban areas.
The implementation of 5G policies provides micro-opportunities and macro-environments to promote health outcomes for older adults. At the micro level, 5G will allow more seniors to access the internet using their smart devices, facilitating access to health information and promoting social participation. At a macro level, his 5G-related applications in the medical and healthcare industry will contribute to meeting the medical and health needs of the elderly.
However, considering heterogeneity, some elderly people are simultaneously experiencing economic disparity, health disparity, and digital disparity, and the disparity with elderly people who enjoy the advantages of digital resources is gradually increasing with the trend of technological development. It is expanding into Targeted measures must be adopted to avoid worsening inequalities and improve health outcomes for all older people.
We believe that the rapid adoption of digital technologies such as 5G will accelerate and expand innovations that can create and spread health, enabling everyone, regardless of gender or age, to enjoy healthy lives. I hope that this public health vision will become a reality. last.
This story is part of the Science X Dialog, where researchers can report findings from published research papers. To learn more about ScienceX Dialog and how to participate, visit this page.
For more information:
Huameng Tang et al., The impact of 5G policy development on the self-rated health of Chinese elderly: A quasi-experimental study; global migration (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.glt.2023.08.002
Chao Guo is a researcher and assistant professor at the Institute of Population Research, Peking University. She received her bachelor’s degree in medicine and economics from Peking University in 2011 and her Ph.D. in 2011. In 2016 she received her demography degree from Peking University. Her research interests include early life risk factors for health, life course research, and health impact assessment of policies. Huameng Tang is a researcher and student at the Institute of Population Research, Peking University. She received her bachelor’s degree in sociology from Huazhong University of Science and Technology in 2022. Her research interests include intelligent technology and health and public health.
