Does digital literacy affect the happiness of rural residents? Evidence from China

Digital literacy is increasingly viewed as a prerequisite for psychological wellbeing in rural societies, yet evidence on its multidimensional effects remains fragmented.

Drawing on a recent nationwide rural survey, we examined how distinct facets of digital literacy relate to residents' happiness while accounting for potential endogeneity and heterogeneity across demographic groups. Robustness checks included instrumental-variable and propensity-score approaches; social trust and perceived income served as mediators.

Digital literacy showed a consistent positive association with subjective wellbeing that persisted across alternative specifications. The linkage was stronger among middle-aged and older adults, men, non-eastern regions, and less-educated individuals; digital work literacy exerted the largest influence. Social trust and perceived income partly explained the relationship.

Findings highlight digital literacy as a modifiable determinant of rural happiness and underscore the value of targeted, work-oriented digital-skill interventions for digitally vulnerable populations.