The Impact of Internet Use on the Well-Being of Rural Residents

Longjunjiang Huang, Xian Liang, Lishan Li, Hui Xiao () and Fangting Xie ()
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Longjunjiang Huang: School of Business Administration, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, Wuhan 430073, China
Xian Liang: School of Economics and Management, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
Lishan Li: School of Economics and Management, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China
Hui Xiao: School of Economics and Management, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
Fangting Xie: School of Economics and Management, Zhejiang A & F University, Hangzhou 311300, China

Agriculture, 2023, vol. 13, issue 7, 1-18

Abstract: With the full penetration of the Internet, the Internet has had a great impact on the production and life of rural residents. The article takes a rural residents’ group as its research object to explore the impact mechanism. Leveraging data from the Chinese Family Panel Studies (CFPS) in 2016, we employ a multivariate ordered logit model as an empirical approach to delve into the various dimensions of Internet usage. By examining different facets of Internet utilization, we aim to assess the effects of these distinct uses on the well-being of rural residents. Furthermore, we investigate the mediating role of social capital in understanding the collective well-being of this demographic. The findings of this study are as follows: (1) The utilization of the Internet yields a positive impact on the well-being of rural residents. (2) Social networks exhibit a significant positive influence on the well-being of rural residents; social solidarity demonstrates a significant negative impact on the well-being of rural residents. Additionally, social trust is found to have a significant negative effect on the well-being of rural residents. (3) Regarding mobile phone access, we identify a positive and significant effect on the well-being of rural residents when mediated by social networks and social trust. In contrast, social mutual aid does not exhibit a significant mediating effect. Among the patterns of mobile phone usage, social network and social mutual aid within the realm of social capital emerge as intermediate variables that affect the well-being of rural residents through Internet usage. However, it is worth noting that social trust does not have a significant effect in this regard. These results contribute to our understanding of how Internet usage and social capital interact to shape the well-being of rural communities.

Keywords: Internet use; social capital; mediating effects; rural residents’ well-being (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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