Driving Factors of Digital Disability Among Older Adults and the Construction of an Inclusive Ecosystem: Evidence from a Multi-method Study in Western China

Driving Factors of Digital Disability Among Older Adults and the Construction of an Inclusive Ecosystem: Evidence from a Multi-method Study in Western China | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Driving Factors of Digital Disability Among Older Adults and the Construction of an Inclusive Ecosystem: Evidence from a Multi-method Study in Western China Xiaoxiao Chen, Wenli Huang, Weizhuo Qin, Peiyao Liu This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8857087/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 11 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Background Digital disability has emerged as a novel form of social exclusion that hinders older adults from sharing digital dividends. This phenomenon is particularly pronounced in Western China, where digitalization and population aging are undergoing a simultaneous transition. Methods Based on the COM-B（（Capability, Opportunity, Motivation, and Behavior）model, this research integrates quantitative data from the China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey （CLASS）of 2023(n=2,904) covering 10 western Chinese provinces with qualitative insights from 30 in-depth interviews. Through a multi-method approach involving Latent Class Analysis, multinomial logistic regression, and Random Forest, the study provides a systemic revelation of the critical influencing factors and the nuanced internal heterogeneity of digital disability in this population. Results Findings reveal three heterogeneous profiles among older adults in Western China: "Autonomous and Proficient," "Passive and Dependent," and "Struggling and Help-seeking." Conclusions This study extends the explanatory boundaries of the COM-B model within the field of digital aging. Accordingly, a three-dimensional interactive digital inclusion ecosystem is proposed, comprising the Capability layer (inclusive economic empowerment), the Opportunity layer (a multi-agent collaborative supportive environment), and the Motivation layer (value reaffirmation and self-efficacy enhancement). These insights provide a policy basis and practical pathways for sharing digital dividends and constructing an age-friendly society. Digital disability Older adults Digital divide Inclusive ecosystem Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 27 Apr, 2026 Reviews received at journal 08 Apr, 2026 Reviews received at journal 02 Apr, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 01 Apr, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 29 Mar, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 23 Mar, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 19 Mar, 2026 Editor invited by journal 25 Feb, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 20 Feb, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 19 Feb, 2026 First submitted to journal 19 Feb, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8857087","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":609717956,"identity":"b4f8e5aa-ec30-4c23-b8d8-434930a29f1d","order_by":0,"name":"Xiaoxiao Chen","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Guangxi University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Xiaoxiao","middleName":"","lastName":"Chen","suffix":""},{"id":609717957,"identity":"af2e3e47-a726-4a62-beda-0d7e049acb72","order_by":1,"name":"Wenli Huang","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Guangxi University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Wenli","middleName":"","lastName":"Huang","suffix":""},{"id":609717958,"identity":"999adf84-7b02-45fb-8c26-6282916e2917","order_by":2,"name":"Weizhuo Qin","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Guangxi University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Weizhuo","middleName":"","lastName":"Qin","suffix":""},{"id":609717959,"identity":"e28665a3-4590-4c08-9559-0388d6133a13","order_by":3,"name":"Peiyao Liu","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAAvUlEQVRIiWNgGAWjYBACNvmHDQc+/vknx0+0Fj6G5IMPZzYcMJZsIFaLHENasjFnw4FEgwNEO4zhjJk04447CcbHkzcw/KjYRoQWxh4z6cIzz/LMzjwrYOw5c5sILcw8ZtIz2JiLzW7kGDAzthGjhQ2ohYeNOXHzDKK18LAlG/O2HU7cIEG0Fgnmgw9nnEkzlgD65SBRfpGfwdhw4EOFjRx/e/LGBz8qiNCCBBKIjxqEFlJ1jIJRMApGwQgBAKYhPlYehj06AAAAAElFTkSuQmCC","orcid":"","institution":"Guangxi University","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Peiyao","middleName":"","lastName":"Liu","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-02-12 03:38:32","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8857087/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8857087/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":105564209,"identity":"9daabcaa-9f90-4c09-8561-0d834249c7d6","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-03-27 12:49:00","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":950908,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"RevisedManuscriptwithHighlights.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8857087/v1_covered_b2771ea2-87b2-486c-be66-5e31cf25b618.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"\u003cp\u003eDriving Factors of Digital Disability Among Older Adults and the Construction of an Inclusive Ecosystem: Evidence from a Multi-method Study in Western China\u003c/p\u003e","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"bmc-geriatrics","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"bgtc","sideBox":"Learn more about [BMC Geriatrics](http://bmcgeriatr.biomedcentral.com/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"https://www.editorialmanager.com/bgtc/default.aspx","title":"BMC Geriatrics","twitterHandle":"BMC_series","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"BMC Series","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Digital disability, Older adults, Digital divide, Inclusive ecosystem","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8857087/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8857087/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBackground\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDigital disability has emerged as a novel form of social exclusion that hinders older adults from sharing digital dividends. This phenomenon is particularly pronounced in Western China, where digitalization and population aging are undergoing a simultaneous transition.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMethods\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBased on the COM-B（（Capability, Opportunity, Motivation, and Behavior）model, this research integrates quantitative data from the China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey （CLASS）of 2023(n=2,904) covering 10 western Chinese provinces with qualitative insights from 30 in-depth interviews. 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