Predictors of Digital Literacy among Older Adults Living in Urban and Rural Areas

Background: This study examined the factors influencing digital literacy among older adults aged 65 and older, focusing on the roles of social capital and life satisfaction in urban and rural contexts.Methods: A secondary analysis was conducted using microdata from the Digital Information Gap Survey 2023, a nationally representative dataset collected by the National Information Society Agency. Data from 974 seniors aged 65 or older who have experience using the internet and own a mobile device were analyzed using descriptive statistics. In this study, digital literacy was measured by personal computer use ability and mobile use ability. Pearson’s correlation, and hierarchical regression analyses to identify predictors of digital literacy. Results: Digital literacy was significantly higher in urban areas than in rural areas (t=–5.954, P<0.001). In both settings, younger age,men gender, higher educational attainment, and greater household income were associated with higher digital literacy. Social capital was a significant predictor in urban (β=0.089, P=0.008) and rural (β=0.230, P=0.003) groups, whereas life satisfaction significantly influenced digital literacy only in urban areas (β=0.070, P=0.036). For rural older adults, household type (non-single-person households) was also a significant predictor.Conclusions: The findings highlight distinct patterns in the determinants of digital literacy between urban and rural older adults. Enhancing social capital and addressing socioeconomic disparities are essential to narrowing the digital divide, particularly in rural areas. Context-sensitive and community-based programs should promote digital inclusion and improve the quality of life among older adults.