Mobile Phone Use, Digital Engagement Patterns, and Neurofunctional Reserve Among Nursing Home Residents in China: A Cross-Sectional Study
Abstract
Abstract Background Digital technology use in later life is increasingly recognized as relevant to healthy aging, yet evidence from nursing home residents remains limited and often restricted to single-domain outcomes. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 684 nursing home residents in Hangzhou, China. The frequency, weekly hours, and purposes of mobile phone use, as well as computer use, were examined as exposures. Outcomes included cognitive function measured by Chinese Mini-Mental Status (CMMS) and physical function (6-m gait speed, grip strength, five-chair-stand time and possible sarcopenia). An exploratory neurofunctional reserve (NFR) score was constructed using CMMS, gait speed, grip strength, chair-stand time, GDS-15, SF-36 physical-function and mental-health domains. Adjusted regression and overlap weighting were used to examine the cross‑sectional associations between mobile phone use and the outcomes. Latent class analysis was applied to digital behavior patterns among users. Robustness was evaluated using multiverse analyses with negative-control outcomes, sensitivity analyses additionally adjusted for sensory and baseline functional status, and multiple-imputation and posterior-draw latent-class sensitivity analyses. Results In overlap-weighted models, mobile phone users had lower odds of cognitive impairment (OR 0.28, 95% CI 0.15–0.52), higher CMMS score (95% CI 2.21–4.28), and better physical performance, including faster gait speed and stronger…
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Evidence Hub reads this as a cross-sectional, done in people. Its evidence level is 4 of 5 (Low · observational). Observational designs can show an association but not prove cause.
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