Digital Health Literacy and Self-Reported Health in Older Adults: The Role of Social Support in Internet Use

Digital health literacy (DHL) may be important in promoting health. However, there is little understanding of how social support and utilizing electronic resources are associated with DHL.

To assess whether perceived social support of internet use, use of digital resources, and medical services serve as mediators and moderators in the pathway between DHL and self-reported health (SRH).

A cross-sectional telephone survey of 587 respondents aged 60+ was conducted in Israel in 2024. Respondents reported their DHL, SRH, perceived support of internet use, use of digital resources, and sociodemographic measures. Information regarding their actual use of digital health services for 2024 was retrieved from the healthcare service database. Statistical analyses were performed using moderation mediation models with SRH as the dependent variable.

Perceived social support in internet use was a significant mediator between DHL and SRH. The direct effect was 0.0046 (CI 0.001, 0.008) and the indirect effect was 0.0017 (CI 0.0005, 0.003). Use of digital resources and services were not associated with SRH and do not serve as significant moderators of the association between DHL and SRH.

As more medical services have and are becoming digitalized the importance of the digital divide is increasing. Perceived support in using digital resources may enable individuals to overcome the digital divide and benefit from the digital resources available. It is important to note that findings are correlational due to the cross-sectional nature of the study.