Digitization and Active Aging: How Digital Finance Shapes the Mental Health of Empty-Nest Older Individuals

Background: In the social context characterized by digitization and population aging, empty-nest older individuals have emerged as a particularly vulnerable group. This study examines the impact of digital finance on the mental health of empty-nest older individuals using data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) spanning 2011 to 2018 and investigates its underlying mechanisms through the three dimensions of active aging. Results: The findings suggest that digital finance is associated with reduced likelihood and degree of depression among empty-nest older individuals. The beneficial effect of digital finance on depression is more pronounced among empty-nest older individuals with lower educational attainment, without supplementary pensions, and residing in rural areas. Furthermore, mechanism analysis shows that digital finance relates to better health outcomes, greater security, and increased social participation among empty-nest older individuals. Conclusions: These findings underscore the potential of digital finance to facilitate active aging among empty-nest older individuals.