Internet use and self-rated health among Swedish 70-year-olds: a cross-sectional study

Stroke survivors' experiences and meaning of digital technology in daily life: a phenomenological study

PURPOSE

The aim of the study was to explore the experiences and meaning of digital technology in daily life by stroke survivors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A phenomenological study design helped to collect rich and in-depth understanding of stroke survivors' experiences and meaning of digital technology in their daily life and their perspective of applying digital technology in the implementation of stroke-related telerehabilitation services. Thematic analysis was used for data analysis.

FINDINGS

An overarching theme emerged: A spectrum of challenges, personal preferences, strategies to manage, and attitudes towards the use of digital technology in daily life.

CONCLUSION

The findings revealed that participants' different experiences influenced their perceived meaning of digital technology in daily life and the interest to participate in telerehabilitation services.

Research on the impact and mechanism of digital capabilities and digital finance on household wealth in the context of aging

China has entered a period of synchronous development between digitalization and aging. Based on the data from the China Household Finance Survey (CHFS), the partial least squares structural equation model (PLS-SEM) and multi-group analysis were used to analyze the impact mechanism of digital capabilities and digital finance on the wealth of elderly households. The results indicate that digital capabilities and digital finance can improve the wealth level of households headed by the elderly through direct and indirect paths. The indirect effects of digital capabilities and digital finance on elderly household wealth are all exerted through the node of business and property income, and entrepreneurship/investment are mediating variables. Moreover, digital capabilities have a greater impact on the wealth of elderly households in the central and western China regions, while digital finance has a greater impact in the eastern China regions. In addition, there is no significant difference in the effect of digital capabilities on business and property income across regions, while digital finance has a larger effect in the eastern region. The above conclusions can provide theoretical and practical support for realizing active aging and common prosperity in different countries and regions.

Toward Innovation in Healthcare: An Analysis of the Digital Behavior of Older People in Europe and Japan for the Introduction of a Technological Coaching System

(1) Background: The increasing older population and demographic shifts highlight the need to understand the digital profiles of older adults, a pivotal factor in developing innovative technologies like the e-VITA virtual coach. This personalized coach provides recommendations for sustainable well-being in a smart home environment. (2) Methods: This study focuses on analyzing the characteristics of older individuals categorized as Internet users (onliners) and non-users (offliners). European Social Survey data from 2021 were utilized for European analysis, determining Internet usage based on frequency. Offliners are defined as users who never use the Internet, and onliners as those who use it, albeit with different frequencies. In Japan, data from the 9th International Comparative Survey on the Lives and Attitudes of the Elderly were employed, based on the responses of 1367 subjects, which defined onliners as individuals using communication devices and offliners as those not utilizing fax machines, cell phones, or the Internet. (3) Results: This paper presents a primary analysis of older end-user context and perspectives, outlining effective strategies for the diffusion of an active and healthy aging coaching system in the market and society. (4) Conclusions: the study emphasizes the importance of analyzing digital behavior in any user-centered design approach to ensure the system's acceptance after deployment.

Is There an Association between the Use of Social Media and Self-Rated Health?

This study sought to determine the association between social media and self-rated health. This study used the 2022 Health Information National Trends Survey for American adults. A statistical analysis was conducted using Chi-square and multivariable logistic regression. Of the 6018 study participants, the majority reported that they were in excellent/very good and good health (82.9%, n = 4930). More than half (58.2%, n = 3268) of the respondents reported that they visited a social media site almost every day in the past 12 months, while 76.8% (n = 4843) reported that they never interacted with people who had similar health or medical issues on social media. There was no association between everyday visits to a social media site, interaction with people with similar health/medical issues on social media, or watching a health-related video on social media and self-rated health. Those who had full-time employment were more likely to rate their health as excellent/very good/good (AOR: 2.394, 95% Conf. Int: 1.820-3.149) compared to those with no full-time employment. Marital status, confidence in taking care of oneself, education, and current smoking were associated with self-rated health. This study showed that the use of social media which included the watching of health-related videos was not associated with self-rated health.

Assessing the Relationship Between Health Information Technology Use and Self-Rated Health Among Adults with Chronic Low Back Pain in the United States

OBJECTIVE

To assess the use of health information technology (HIT) among adults with chronic low back pain (CLBP) in the United States and to evaluate the relationship between HIT use and self-rated health.

METHODS

The independent variable was the use of the internet to (1) fill prescriptions, (2) communicate with a healthcare provider, (3) look up health information, and (4) schedule a medical appointment. Respondents rated their health in the last 12 months as worse, about the same, or better. A Chi-square analysis was used to assess the use of HIT among those with CLBP; a logistic regression was used to determine predictors of HIT use; and an ordinal logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between HIT and self-rated health.

RESULTS

As compared to those without CLBP, those with CLBP are more likely to use the internet to look up health information (58.9 vs. 53.8%, p-value<.001), refill prescriptions (13.9% vs. 10.5%, p-value<.001), and communicate with a healthcare provider (19.8% vs.15.3%, p-value<.001). Being employed and having a higher level of education were positive predictors of HIT use. As compared to other uses of the internet, using the internet to communicate with a healthcare provider was associated with higher odds of rating health as better compared to worse or about the same within the last 12 months.

CONCLUSION

Among adults with CLBP, a more affluent social status is associated with the use of HIT. Also, HIT is associated with a better health rating as compared to not using it at all. Further studies should assess the longitudinal relationship between HIT use and how adults with CLBP rate their health.

Association Between Internet Use and Physical Health, Mental Health, and Subjective Health in Middle-aged and Older Adults: Nationally Representative Cross-sectional Survey in China

BACKGROUND

Internet use is an important means of accessing health-related information. Identifying the associations between internet use and health outcomes could provide insight into strategies for improving public health among middle-aged and older adults (45 years and up).

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to examine the relationship between internet use and health outcomes in middle-aged and older adults.

METHODS

Data were obtained from the 2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. Physical, mental, and subjective health were assessed using the Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Scale, the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, and the 3-level Self-Rated Health Scale, respectively. The chi-square test and rank sum test were used to explore whether internet use was associated with health status. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to determine this association further after controlling for the confounding factors.

RESULTS

Overall, 13% (1752/13,474) of the participants used the internet. Regression analyses revealed that the prevalence of depression (odds ratio [OR] 0.59, 95% CI 0.52-0.68; P<.001), negative self-rated health (OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.61-0.76; P<.001), and difficulty with ADL (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.39-0.60; P<.001) in the participating middle-aged and older adult was lower in those using the internet than nonusers. After controlling for confounding factors, internet use was found to be negatively associated with difficulty with ADL (urban: OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.32-0.61; P<.001 vs rural: OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.41-0.75; P<.001), depression (urban: OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.57-0.84; P<.001 vs rural: OR 0.52, 95% CI: 0.43-0.63; P<.001), and self-rated health status (urban: OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.61-0.81; P<.001 vs rural: OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.57-0.78; P<.001) among middle-aged and older adults in both urban and rural areas.

CONCLUSIONS

Internet use had a positive effect on the physical and mental health of middle-aged and older adults who participated in this study. However, the internet usage rate remains low among older Chinese people. Therefore, the internet penetration rate should be a priority.

Static and Dynamic Impacts of Internet Use on Self-Rated Health among Adults in China: A Hybrid Model Analysis Based on National Panel Survey Data

The widespread use of the Internet has a substantial impact on people's livelihoods, including health-related factors. Whether this impact is beneficial or harmful to people's health remains unclear. Some cross-sectional studies found static differences in the health status between Internet users and nonusers, whereas panel data studies found dynamic changes in an individuals' health over time, making the issue, including its causality, controversial. Therefore, we aimed to clarify the association between the use of the Internet and people's health from both static and dynamic aspects. Data were obtained for 46,460 adults from the China Family Panel Studies in 2014, 2016, and 2018. The analysis applied a logistic regression hybrid model with self-rated health as the dependent variable and Internet use as the main independent variable. In the hybrid model, time-varying independent variables were decomposed into between-individual (static) differences and within-individual (dynamic) changes over time. The results indicated that the between-individual coefficient of Internet use was significantly positive, but the within-individual coefficient was not, i.e., Internet users felt healthier than nonusers from the static aspect but starting to use the Internet did not increase the self-rated health from the dynamic aspect. These findings suggest that attention is needed in order to not confuse the static differences with dynamic change regarding the causality between Internet use and self-rated health.

The Relationship between Internet Use and Self-Rated Health among Older Adults in China: The Mediating Role of Social Support

The development of Internet technology has significantly impacted how people live their daily lives. How this disparity in Internet use affects the self-rated health of older adults needs to be further explored. This paper studies the impact of Internet use on self-rated health, aiming to examine the effect of Internet use and social support on the self-rated health of older adults in China. This study used data from the 2017 China General Social Survey (CGSS) to verify the effect of Internet use on older adults' self-rated health. The results showed that Chinese elderly who used the Internet had a higher self-rated health, and social support from relatives and friends significantly improved the elderly's self-rated health. This social support played a critical, partially mediating role between Internet use and self-rated health. In China, the effect of Internet use on older adults' self-rated health was heterogeneous. Among them, the impact of Internet use was more significant for the male elderly, younger elderly, and rural elderly. The results suggest that the government should formulate targeted policies to improve the utilization of the Internet and maintain a good Internet environment to enhance the well-being of older adults according to the trend of population aging and the popularity of the Internet.

Digital Technology Access and Health-Related Internet Use Among People Experiencing Homelessness in Hungary: Quantitative Survey

Background

In recent years, there has been an increase in the use of digital technology for personal health and well-being. Previous research has revealed that these technologies might provide vulnerable populations, including those who are homeless, better access to health services and thus a greater chance of more personalized care.

Objective

However, little is known about the relationship between technology and health among people experiencing homelessness in Central and Eastern Europe. This study is part of a series of studies by the Digital Health Research Group at Semmelweis University (Budapest, Hungary) in cooperation with the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta; it aims to assess the existing technological resources available for the homeless population and their health-related internet use characteristics to set the ground for potential health policy interventions, enabling better access to health services by strengthening the digital components of the existing health care system.

Methods

Between April 19, 2021, and August 11, 2021, a total of 662 people from 28 institutions providing social services for people experiencing homelessness in Budapest, Hungary, were surveyed about their access to digital tools and internet use patterns. For selected questions, the responses of a representative sample of the Hungarian population were used for comparison as the reference group. Chi-square tests and logistic regression analyses were performed to identify variables affecting internet use for health-related reasons.

Results

The results demonstrated a considerable level of internet use in the homeless population; 52.9% (350/662) of the respondents used the internet frequently compared with 81.3% (1220/1500) of the respondents in the reference group. Among the homeless group, 69.6% (461/662) of the respondents reported mobile phone ownership, and 39.9% (264/662) of the respondents added that it had a smartphone function. Moreover, 11.2% (70/662) of the respondents had already used a health mobile app, and 34.6% (229/662) of the respondents had used the internet for medical purposes. On the basis of these characteristics, we were able to identify a broadly defined, digitally engaged group among people experiencing homelessness (129/662, 19.5%). This subpopulation was inclined to benefit from digitalization related to their personal health. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that internet use for health reasons was more significant for younger respondents, women, those with higher levels of education, and those with no chronic conditions.

Conclusions

Although compared with the general population, health-related internet use statistics are lower, our results show that the idea of involving homeless populations in the digital health ecosystem is viable, especially if barriers to access are systematically reduced. The results show that digital health services have great promise as another tool in the hands of community shelters for keeping homeless populations well ingrained in the social infrastructure as well as for disease prevention purposes.

Factors associated with internet use and health information technology use among older people with multi-morbidity in the United States: findings from the National Health Interview Survey 2018

Background

The number of older adults with physical multi-morbidity is increasing. As Internet-based eHealth and mHealth increasingly require patients to use technology, it is important to examine the use of Internet/health information technology (HIT) among older adults with physical multi-morbidity. Here we examine the distribution of physical multi-morbidity, Internet use, and HIT use, and further explored the factors associated with Internet use and HIT use among older adults with physical multi-morbidity.

Methods

One wave of data from the 2018 US National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) was analysed. We included respondents aged 65 years and older. We used 13 physical non-communicable diseases to measure physical multi-morbidity. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression models, with sociodemographic factors, health status, health insurance, health care service use, and satisfaction with health care as covariates, were used to examine the research questions.

Results

Of 72,746 respondents in NHIS, 7060 were eligible for our analysis. 5380 (76.2%) eligible respondents had physical multi-morbidity in this study. Overall, 60% of older adults reported using the Internet, with 38.9% using eHealth services (defined as looking up health information online, filling a prescription, scheduling an appointment with a health care provider, or communicating with a health care provider via email). Gender, age, marital status, region, race, education, and family income were significant factors associated with the Internet and HIT use among people with multi-morbidity. The study also showed that after adjusting for confounders, good health status, having Medicare, receiving home care from a health professional, and low satisfaction with health care were positive predictors of the Internet and HIT use.

Conclusions

In summary, our study found that Internet and HIT use among older patients with chronic diseases is far from the Healthy People 2030 target. Internet and HIT use vary depending on a number of sociodemographic factors. Relevant influencing factors should be fully considered in health education interventions promoted.

Awareness of and attitudes towards public involvement in research on ageing and health among older people in Sweden

BACKGROUND

While the importance of involving older people in research is increasingly acknowledged, quantitative studies exploring the perspectives of larger samples of older people who take an active role in research on ageing and health are scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate the awareness of and attitudes towards public involvement in research on ageing and health among older people in Sweden.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data derived from a survey (N = 881) of people aged 60 years or older in Sweden. Demographics, self-rated health, and attitudes were analysed using descriptive statistics. Awareness of and previous active involvement in research were analysed using chi-square tests and Mann Whitney tests. Factors associated with willingness to be actively involved in research were determined by logistic regressions.

RESULTS

Of the 26% who responded (N = 881), 39% (n = 343) were aware that they could be actively involved in research. Awareness and previous active involvement in research were significantly associated with a higher level of education. Public involvement was believed to enhance research communication and enable valuable contributions related to ageing. The proportion of respondents who were willing to be actively involved in research was significantly higher for respondents with previous experience and a higher level of education.

CONCLUSIONS

Engaging older people in Sweden in research targeting active involvement in research presents a challenge. The study shows an over-representation of people with higher education, who tend to be more aware, have previous experience, and are more willing to be involved in research with public involvement. This implies a risk that groups with lower education are not represented, and that knowledge co-produced with mostly highly educated groups will lead to a biased picture. Further studies are needed to understand how an increased awareness of research and willingness to participate can be achieved. IRRID: RR2-10.2196/17759.

Health and self-perceived barriers to internet use among older migrants: a population-based study

Background

In older adults, including those with a migrant background, ill health is associated with less internet use. However, it is not known what are the specific self-perceived barriers to internet use among older migrants with different health conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between different health conditions and self-perceived barriers to internet use among older migrants.

Methods

We used the Care, Health and Ageing of Russian-speaking Minority in Finland (CHARM) study, which is a nationally representative survey of community-dwelling Russian-speaking adults aged ≥50 years living in Finland (N=1082, 57% men, mean age 63.2 years, standard deviation 8.4 years, response rate 36%). Postal survey data were collected in 2019. Health indicators were self-rated health (SRH), depressive symptoms, cognitive functioning, and doctor-diagnosed conditions. Linear regression analyses were used to investigate the associations between health indicators and a summary scale consisting of the following barriers of internet use: (1) internet use is too complicated and hard to learn; (2) having concerns about safety issues; (3) internet use is too expensive; (4) physical limitations hinder the internet use; (5) memory problems hinder the internet use. In addition, the two most commonly reported barriers (the first two) were examined separately using logistic regression analyses. The analyses were adjusted for age, sex, education, marital status, local language proficiency, and income support, and the health conditions, and were performed with weights accounting for the survey design and non-response.

Results

After adjustments, spine/back problems (b=0.13; p=0.049), depressive symptoms (b=0.40; p=0.007), and problems in learning new things (b=0.60; p<0.0005) were associated with higher level of overall barriers to internet use. In addition, a number of health conditions were associated with individual barriers, albeit some health conditions appeared protective.

Conclusions

In general, older migrants with declining health experience more barriers to internet use than their counterparts with better health. To provide better access to healthcare for older adults, including older migrants, rapidly changing devices, software and apps need to be modified and adapted for those with specific health-related needs.

Can internet use reduce the incidence of cognitive impairment? Analysis of the EpiFloripa Aging Cohort Study (2009-2019)

This study aims to estimate the effect of internet use on the incidence of cognitive impairment in older adults. Data are from the EpiFloripa Aging Cohort Study which has been following a population-based sample of older adults (60+) residing in Florianópolis, southern Brazil, for ten years. The outcome was the incidence of cognitive decline in follow-up waves measured by the Mini-Mental State Examination using cutoff points according to education. The exposure was internet use according to wave (yes/no). We excluded individuals with cognitive impairment from Wave 1 (n = 453). We used a longitudinal analysis model (Generalized Estimating Equations) to estimate incidence rate ratios (IRR) with 95% confidence intervals. We estimated the risk of cognitive impairment in Wave 2 or Wave 3 according to internet use in the previous wave. The incidence of cognitive impairment was 13.4% in Wave 2 and 13.3% in Wave 3. Despite the aging of this cohort, the prevalence of internet users increased from 26.4% in Wave 1 to 32.8% in Wave 2 and 46.8% in Wave 3. The risk of cognitive impairment in Wave 2 or Wave 3 was 70% lower for older adults who used the internet in the previous wave, adjusted for sex, age, years of education, household income, and self-reported comorbidities (IRR = 0.30; 95% CI: 0.15-0.61; p = 0.001). Internet use was associated with a decline in the incidence of cognitive impairment among older adults living in the urban areas of southern Brazil after a period of ten years.

Have changes in Internet use during the COVID-19 pandemic affected older adults' self-rated health? A cross-sectional study of young-old and old-old populations in Korea

Disparities in Internet access are barriers to older populations' well-being. This study examined the association between changes in older adults' Internet usage during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and their self-rated health. Participants were adults aged 65 years and above, selected from the 2020 Digital Divide Survey conducted in Korea (n = 1150). Changes in Internet use among younger (aged 65-74 years) and older (aged 75 years and above) groups and the association between these changes and participants' self-rated health were examined. Internet usage remained similar or increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly among the younger group. Increased Internet use was associated with better self-rated health of the participants. Other characteristics, including age, income, and education level, were also positively associated with their health. This study highlights the need for increasing older adults' access to online activities to enhance health equity in the digital era.

Digital Information Technology Use, Self-Rated Health, and Depression: Population-Based Analysis of a Survey Study on Older Migrants

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have found that in general, poor health is associated with a lower likelihood of internet use in older adults, but it is not well known how different indicators of health are associated with different types of digital information technology (DIT) use. Moreover, little is known about the relationship between health and the types of DIT use in older ethnic minority and migrant populations.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to examine the associations among depressive symptoms and self-rated health (SRH) with different dimensions of DIT use in older migrants.

METHODS

We analyzed data from the Care, Health and Ageing of Russian-speaking Minority (CHARM) study, which is based on a nationally representative sample of community-dwelling, Russian-speaking adults aged 50 years or older residing permanently in Finland (men: 616/1082, 56.93%; age: mean 63.2 years, SD 8.4 years; response rate: 1082/3000, 36.07%). Data were collected in 2019 using a postal survey. Health was measured using depressive symptoms (measured using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale) and SRH. Binary logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the associations between the two health indicators and the following six outcomes: daily internet use, smartphone ownership, the use of the internet for messages and calls, social media use, the use of the internet for personal health data, and obtaining health information from the internet. A number of sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors were controlled for in the logistic regression regression analysis. Analyses were performed with weights accounting for the survey design and nonresponse.

RESULTS

After adjusting for sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors, depressive symptoms (odds ratio [OR] 2.68, 95% CI 1.37-5.24; P=.004) and poor SRH (OR 7.90, 95% CI 1.88-33.11; P=.005) were associated with a higher likelihood of not using the internet daily. Depressive symptoms (OR 1.88, 95% CI 1.06-3.35; P=.03) and poor SRH (OR 5.05, 95% CI 1.58-16.19; P=.006) also increased the likelihood of smartphone nonuse. Depressive symptoms were additionally associated with a lower likelihood of social media use, and poor SRH was associated with a lower likelihood of using the internet for messaging and calling.

CONCLUSIONS

Poor SRH and depressive symptoms are associated with a lower likelihood of DIT use in older adults. Longitudinal studies are required to determine the directions of these relationships.

The association between Internet use and health-related outcomes in older adults and the elderly: a cross-sectional study

Background

Older adults and elderly persons can experience a significant digital divide. However, there are many studies reporting that the use of the Internet has benefits related to a person’s health status and social inclusion. It is not fully clear if Internet use and health-related outcomes share common antecedents or if using the Internet may have a favourable effect on the determinants responsible for good health. The main aim of this study was to assess the relationship between the use of the Internet and health-related outcomes in older adults and elderly people in Poland.

Methods

The effect of the use of the Internet was analysed with regression models after adjusting for sociodemographic factors. The data used for the analysis were obtained through a telephone-based survey on a representative sample of Polish adults at least 50 years of age.

Results

By categorising the frequency of Internet use by the respondents, it was found that some categories were significantly related to less favourable health behaviours. Rare Internet users were less likely to undertake physical activity than nonusers (odds ratio, OR, 95% confidence interval, 95%CI 0.48, 0.28–0.83). Those using the Internet every day less frequently consumed fruit and vegetables (OR, 95%CI 0.64, 0.42–0.99). Internet use was also associated with more frequent consumption of alcohol (OR, 95%CI 1.65, 1.09–2.50 comparing nonusers with those accessing the Internet several times a week). Persons rarely using the Internet, but not those who accessed it at least a few times a week, possessed a lower health literacy than nonusers (OR, 95%CI 0.71, 0.52–0.97). Internet users were also more likely to assess their health status as unsatisfactory (OR, 95%CI 0.59, 0.42–0.82 comparing nonusers with those using the Internet daily). Finally, the use of the Internet was consistently associated with a lower prevalence of chronic conditions and disability, as well as less frequent visits to health care facilities.

Conclusions

In conclusion, in contrast to earlier findings, Internet use is not associated with favourable patterns of lifestyle or higher self-rated health in older Polish adults. However, persons with chronic conditions or disabilities less frequently declare the use of the Internet. It was also revealed that older adults and the elderly who make use of the Internet are less likely to utilise health services.

Internet Use and Problematic Use in Seniors: A Comparative Study in Switzerland and Poland

Background: Seniors have been only little considered in studies examining problematic internet use and associated health issues, although they may present risk factors that make them particularly vulnerable for the development of problematic internet use. Objectives: (1) To compare Internet use and problematic use among seniors in Switzerland and Poland; (2) To examine the relationships between problematic internet use, impulsivity traits and well-being as previous studies showed that internet can be used to cope with negative emotions or life dissatisfaction. Methods: A cross-sectional survey conducted between June 2016 and April 2017 with 264 older internet users aged above 60 years old recruited in Switzerland (88) and Poland (176) assessing sociodemographic variables, online activities, problematic internet use, impulsivity traits and well-being. Results: The two groups differed in their reported online activities in that Polish participants reported more searching for information and buying, whereas Swiss participants reported significantly greater problematic internet use than Polish participants. Finally, a multiple linear regression analysis performed on the whole sample indicated that lower well-being and being a Swiss participant were both significantly associated with greater problematic internet use, after age, gender, level of education, impulsivity traits have been controlled for. Discussion: Swiss seniors showed a more problematic internet use than Polish participants who focused more in their online activities on utility use of internet. The relationships between problematic internet use and well-being suggest that older adults use internet mainly to cope with negative emotion or life dissatisfaction. Socio-cultural differences that could account for these group differences as well as difference with young adults are discussed.

Impact of Internet Use on Elderly Health: Empirical Study Based on Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS) Data

In the current era, the rapid spread of Internet technology has combined with various traditional industries; this provides new research perspectives and solutions for current problems, such as those in the elderly care industry. Elderly health is an important social problem in various countries, and governments have turned to the internet for new methods and better solutions. However, internet-use behavior has a certain influence on the elderly’s health status. This study investigates the effects of internet use on the elderly’s physical health, mental health, and self-rated health, along with the moderating role of individual cognitive ability in the above relationship. This study uses data from the Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS) in 2012 and 2015 as samples for analysis via the hierarchical regression method. The sample is from China and had 2821 and 3185 valid respondents in 2012 and 2015, respectively. Results show that internet use significantly affects the physical and mental health of the elderly and does not significantly affect self-rated health. In addition, individual cognitive ability plays a negative moderating role between internet use and physical and mental health. Finally, on the basis of results analysis and discussion, this study provides new recommendations to achieve targeted health improvements.