An Empirical Study on Digital Economy Development and Residents’ Mental Health Based on CFPS Data

Xichun Gu

doi:10.54097/32y0fg18

Authors

Xichun Gu

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54097/32y0fg18

Keywords:

Digital economy; Mental health; CFPS; Income opportunity inequality.

Abstract

The development of the digital economy is reshaping how the society operates and profoundly impacting residents’ mental health. This paper utilizes data from five waves (2012, 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2022) of the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) and applies a two-way fixed-effects model for analysis. The results show that: (1) Digital economy development has a direct and positive impact on the mental health of Chinese residents. (2) The digital economy indirectly improves mental health levels by mitigating income inequality and increasing individual absolute income. (3) The impact pathway of the digital economy on residents' mental health exhibits group differences based on gender, age, and employment status. Based on these findings, we should deepen the construction and universalization of digital infrastructure, build a multi-level digital skills training system, implement precise policy interventions, and improve supporting systems for the digital economy.

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