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Is dancing with care a possible solution to problematic smartphone use among middle-aged and older adults? A cross-sectional study

  • 0School of Public Administration, Gansu University of Political Science and Law, Gansu, China.
Bmc Public Health +

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December 20, 2025

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December 20, 2025

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Participating in Dancing with Care (DWC) group activities is linked to reduced problematic smartphone use in middle-aged and older adults. This social engagement also helps decrease loneliness, with effects varying between urban and rural settings.

Area Of Science

  • Gerontology
  • Public Health
  • Sociology

Background

  • Problematic smartphone use is a growing concern among middle-aged and older adults, leading to significant losses.
  • Existing research primarily focuses on individual factors, neglecting the impact of social interaction activities.
  • Dancing with Care (DWC) is a community-based social activity designed to foster social integration.

Purpose Of The Study

  • To investigate the association between Dancing with Care (DWC) team attachment and problematic smartphone use in Chinese middle-aged and older adults.
  • To explore the mediating role of loneliness in this association.
  • To examine potential urban-rural differences in the DWC-problematic smartphone use relationship.

Main Methods

  • A survey was conducted with 998 residents aged 45-89 in urban and rural communities in China.
  • Data collected included DWC team attachment, problematic smartphone use, loneliness, and socioeconomic status.
  • A moderated mediation model analyzed the relationships between variables, including urban-rural differences.

Main Results

  • Higher DWC team attachment was significantly associated with lower levels of problematic smartphone use.
  • Loneliness was found to mediate the relationship between DWC team attachment and problematic smartphone use.
  • The association between DWC team attachment and problematic smartphone use was moderated by urban and rural residence.

Conclusions

  • DWC team attachment is a protective factor against problematic smartphone use and loneliness in older adults.
  • Urban participants exhibited weaker social networks and stronger smartphone habits, influencing the DWC's impact.
  • Social interaction activities like DWC offer a promising avenue for mitigating problematic smartphone use in aging populations.

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