The impact of the three-level digital divide on the mental health of rural residents: A study from China

Yi Ding, Yunhui Ai · 2026 · PLoS ONE

Summary. Rural residents in China experience three interconnected digital divides—unequal access to internet, insufficient usage skills, and limited perceived utility—that harm mental health through distinct mechanisms. Access gaps reduce fairness perceptions, usage gaps lower perceived social class, and utility gaps diminish both social class and economic status assessments. Education and regional location moderate these effects, with impacts varying across social groups.

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@article{ding-2026-impact-three-level-digital-divide,
  title   = {The impact of the three-level digital divide on the mental health of rural residents: A study from China},
  author  = {Yi Ding and Yunhui Ai},
  journal = {PLoS ONE},
  year    = {2026},
  doi     = {10.1371/journal.pone.0341264},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0341264}
}

TY  - JOUR
TI  - The impact of the three-level digital divide on the mental health of rural residents: A study from China
AU  - Yi Ding
AU  - Yunhui Ai
JO  - PLoS ONE
PY  - 2026
DO  - 10.1371/journal.pone.0341264
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0341264
ER  - 

Details

DOI

10.1371/journal.pone.0341264

Countries

China

Regions

Asia

Categories

broadband-and-digital, rural-healthcare, policy, general-innovation

Added

2026-04-29