The impact of digital technology on health inequality: evidence from China
Abstract Background With the rapid development of digital technology, it is crucial to explore at the individual microlevel whether digital technology can reduce health inequality and discuss potential transmission mechanisms. Methods This study uses data from the 2020 China Health and Retirement Lo...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-12-01
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| Series: | BMC Health Services Research |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-12022-8 |
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| author | Zhang Zhen Daisheng Tang Xinyuan Wang Qiushi Feng |
| author_facet | Zhang Zhen Daisheng Tang Xinyuan Wang Qiushi Feng |
| author_sort | Zhang Zhen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background With the rapid development of digital technology, it is crucial to explore at the individual microlevel whether digital technology can reduce health inequality and discuss potential transmission mechanisms. Methods This study uses data from the 2020 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS 2020) and the ordinary least squares (OLS) method to estimate the impact of digital technology on health inequality. This work then discusses the potential transmission mechanisms through which digital technology influences health inequality. Finally, it analyses the heterogeneity effects of digital technology on health inequality across different groups. Results We find that digital technology has reduced both physical and mental health inequality. Strengthening family support, enhancing health investment, and improving health behaviours are the transmission paths from digital technology to health inequality. Groups with older cohorts, females, less-educated individuals, low-income individuals, and rural individuals benefit more from physical health inequality, whereas the impact of digital technology on mental health inequality does not differ across groups. Conclusion Digital technology has a significant impact on reducing both physical and mental health inequality, with particularly notable benefits for vulnerable populations. It is imperative to focus more on the targeted effects of digital technology on these marginalized groups. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6c366f3c15e949b08915e0771dc11c6b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1472-6963 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Health Services Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-6c366f3c15e949b08915e0771dc11c6b2024-12-08T12:22:51ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632024-12-0124111310.1186/s12913-024-12022-8The impact of digital technology on health inequality: evidence from ChinaZhang Zhen0Daisheng Tang1Xinyuan Wang2Qiushi Feng3School of Economics and Management, Beijing Jiaotong UniversitySchool of Economics and Management, Beijing Jiaotong UniversitySchool of Economics and Management, Beijing Jiaotong UniversityFaculty of Arts & Social Sciences, National University of SingaporeAbstract Background With the rapid development of digital technology, it is crucial to explore at the individual microlevel whether digital technology can reduce health inequality and discuss potential transmission mechanisms. Methods This study uses data from the 2020 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS 2020) and the ordinary least squares (OLS) method to estimate the impact of digital technology on health inequality. This work then discusses the potential transmission mechanisms through which digital technology influences health inequality. Finally, it analyses the heterogeneity effects of digital technology on health inequality across different groups. Results We find that digital technology has reduced both physical and mental health inequality. Strengthening family support, enhancing health investment, and improving health behaviours are the transmission paths from digital technology to health inequality. Groups with older cohorts, females, less-educated individuals, low-income individuals, and rural individuals benefit more from physical health inequality, whereas the impact of digital technology on mental health inequality does not differ across groups. Conclusion Digital technology has a significant impact on reducing both physical and mental health inequality, with particularly notable benefits for vulnerable populations. It is imperative to focus more on the targeted effects of digital technology on these marginalized groups.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-12022-8Digital technologyPhysical health inequalityMental health inequalityChina |
| spellingShingle | Zhang Zhen Daisheng Tang Xinyuan Wang Qiushi Feng The impact of digital technology on health inequality: evidence from China BMC Health Services Research Digital technology Physical health inequality Mental health inequality China |
| title | The impact of digital technology on health inequality: evidence from China |
| title_full | The impact of digital technology on health inequality: evidence from China |
| title_fullStr | The impact of digital technology on health inequality: evidence from China |
| title_full_unstemmed | The impact of digital technology on health inequality: evidence from China |
| title_short | The impact of digital technology on health inequality: evidence from China |
| title_sort | impact of digital technology on health inequality evidence from china |
| topic | Digital technology Physical health inequality Mental health inequality China |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-12022-8 |
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