Internet use and life satisfaction among empty nesters in rural areas of Yangzhou: based on propensity score matching and mediating effect model

Table 1 Characteristics of the sample after PSM (N = 1177)

Variables		N (%)	Mean ± SD
Dependent variable
	Life satisfaction
	1 = Less than satisfied	188 (15.97)
	2 = Satisfied	989 (84.03)
Independent variable
	Internet use
	0 = No	575 (48.85)
	1 = Yes	602 (51.15)
Mediating variable	Social participation		0.981 ± 0.831
Control variables
	Age
	1 = 60–65	357 (30.33)
	2 = 66–70	557 (47.32)
	3 = Above 70	263 (22.34)
	Gender
	1 = Male	515 (43.76)
	2 = Female	662 (56.24)
	Marital status
	1 = Unmarried	107 (9.09)
	2 = Married	1070 (90.91)
	Profession
	1 = No	906 (76.98)
	2 = Yes	271 (23.02)
	Income
	1 = No	227 (19.29)
	2 = Yes	950 (80.71)
	Medical insurance
	1 = No	34 (2.89)
	2 = Yes	1143 (97.11)
	Smoke status
	1 = Still have	329 (27.95)
	2 = Quit	66 (5.61)
	3 = No	782 (66.44)
	Drink status
	1 = Yes	290 (24.64)
	2 = No	887 (75.36)
	Sleep quality
	1 = Very poor	25 (2.12)
	2 = Poor	267 (22.68)
	3 = Good	694 (58.96)
	4 = Very good	191 (16.23)
	Self-rated health
	1 = Very poor	91 (7.73)
	2 = Poor	267 (22.68)
	3 = Good	752 (63.89)
	4 = Very good	67 (5.69)
	Chronic condition
	1 = Yes	707 (60.07)
	2 = No	470 (39.93)
	Hospitalization within the past year
	1 = Yes	108 (9.18)
	2 = No	1069 (90.82)
	Meeting with children
	1 = At least once a week	248 (21.07)
	2 = At least once a month	238 (20.22)
	3 = Once a few months	691 (58.71)

Note: Categorical variables reported the number and percentages, N (%); while continuous variables reported the means and standard deviations, Mean ± SD

ISSN: 1471-2318