Association Between Overall Media Exposure and Intrinsic Capacity Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in China: A...

Population ageing and the digitalization of society have transformed how older adults access information, health services, and social resources. Intrinsic capacity (IC), defined as the composite of physical and mental capacities underlying functional ability, may be influenced by media exposure through its effects on health knowledge, behaviors, and social interaction. However, evidence on the relationship between overall media exposure and IC among community-dwelling older adults in China remains limited. This cross-sectional study investigated the association between overall media exposure, including traditional and digital media use, and IC impairment among older adults in China. A survey was conducted between April and June 2024 among community-dwelling adults aged ≥60 years in three communities in Wuhan, China (N = 269). Media exposure was assessed using a single-item frequency measure (never/sometimes/often). IC was measured using the World Health Organization 9-item screening tool (score range: 0-9; higher scores indicate greater impairment and poorer IC). Multivariable linear and ordered logistic regression analyses were performed after adjustment for age, gender, marital status, income, education, grip strength, and social participation. The mean age of participants was 69.8 years (standard deviation [SD] 8.5), and 57.2% were women. The mean IC impairment score was 2.45 (SD 1.87). Frequent media exposure ("often" vs "never") was associated with lower IC impairment scores in adjusted linear regression (B = -0.804; 95% confidence interval [CI] -1.53 to -0.08; p = 0.031), indicating better IC. Ordered logistic regression showed consistent findings. Older age was associated with poorer IC, whereas higher income, greater grip strength, being married, and social participation were associated with better IC. More frequent media exposure was associated with better IC among community-dwelling older adults, although longitudinal studies are needed to clarify causality and platform-specific effects.