Effects of the Internet Access Environment on Utilization of Tele-Rehabilitation for Adolescents With Visual or Hearing Disabilities

Abstract

Tele-rehabilitation for adolescents with visual or hearing disabilities positively impacts physical rehabilitation and social integration. The relationships among the internet access environment, especially accessible technologies, digital literacy, internet attitude, and tele-rehabilitation utilization by these adolescents have not been fully established. Using data from a survey of internet use involving 3,759 adolescents with visual or hearing disabilities in China, this study investigated the impact of the internet access environment on tele-rehabilitation utilization and analyzed the roles of digital literacy and internet attitude with serial multiple mediation models. The internet access environment and level of tele-rehabilitation utilization of these adolescents need to be improved, and the internet access environment affects tele-rehabilitation utilization positively, primarily through the mediating effects of digital literacy and internet attitude. Recommendations were made on how to improve the internet access environment, especially accessible technologies, digital literacy, internet attitude, and tele-rehabilitation utilization at the macro, meso, and micro levels.