How digital health technologies promote healthy life in the Post-COVID-19 Era: evidences from national survey on Chinese adolescents and youngsters

Abstract

The rapid development of intelligent technologies coupled with the stay-at-home trends in the Post-COVID-19 Era has significantly changed youth's health behavior as well as reshaped their lifestyles. Digital health technologies (DHTs) have been more and more used for health management among youngsters. However, little was known about the use of DHTs among youths and its consequences on their health, especially in developing countries like China. Inspired by behavior intervention technology (BIT) model, this study examined the underlying mechanisms of use and social interactions of DHTs on Chinese adolescents' and youngsters' healthy lifestyles and mental health, using a representatively national survey among high school and freshman students in China (N = 2,297). It found that use of DHTs had a significantly positive effect on Chinese youths' healthy lifestyles and mental health, with behavioral regulation as a mediator. However, social interactions of DHTs were negatively associated with their mental health. The findings contribute to a better guidance on health promotion, as well as the enhanced design of DHTs' products.

Exploring views and experiences of the general public’s adoption of digital technologies for healthy lifestyle in Singapore: a qualitative study

“…The national population data suggest that besides intensifying existing public education campaigns and programs, novel approaches are needed to transform the promotion of health and prevention of disease in the general population. Digital technologies are able to better promote and sustain positive lifestyle habits ( 21 ). From a public health perspective, one of the most powerful levers for influencing population health lie today in digital technological innovations that make healthy living convenient and an accessible choice ( 22 ).…”

“…Prior studies have demonstrated in Western populations, the use of digital innovations to encourage and increase healthy behaviors (physical activity, diet, mood, and good sleep quality) implemented with various smart tools (e.g., wearables/smart watches, m health apps, nutrition apps, fitness tracking) ( 23 ). Digital technologies can enable individuals to be active participants in their health maintenance, enabling people to manage their health and make better health and lifestyle related decisions ( 24 , 25 ); and may be key to tackling the current and post-pandemic challenges on how to empower individuals to engage in healthier personal lifestyle choices ( 21 , 26 ). Other research also suggest increasingly higher acceptance rates for the use of technology as a healthy behavior accompaniment, through digital innovations, which may be an efficient approach to foster active and healthy lifestyles ( 26 ).…”

Nomophobia (No Mobile Phone Phobia) and Psychological Health Issues among Young Adult Students

“…Smart phones belong to information and communication technologies (ICTs) and are an indispensable part of a person’s everyday life [ 1 ]. Compared to cell phones or mobile phones, which by definition allow prevalently sending texts and calling, smart phones allow for executing a broad variety of further tasks, such as texting and calling people; sending and reading emails; keeping private, leisure time, and working schedules synchronized; doing online shopping; managing social network sites (SNSs); gaming; executing workplace-related tasks [ 2 ]; and tracking one’s health behavior, including physical activity patterns, nutrition [ 3 ], sleep, and general health care, also termed Digital Health Technologies (DHTs; [ 4 ]). As such, it appears plausible that smart phones as a “working tool” have the power to enable learning, individual capacity, and human relationships [ 1 ], and to self-monitor health behavior.…”