The Impact of Digital Feedback Intervention on Digital Social Adaptation in Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Study

Abstract

Against the backdrop of rapid technological advancement and escalating population aging, this study empirically examined the efficacy of digital feedback intervention in alleviating social digital stress and enhancing digital social adaptation among older adults. Sixty participants were randomly assigned to an intervention group receiving digital feedback intervention via smartphone or a control group viewing non-instructional videos. Over 4 months (12 sessions), social digital stress and digital social adaptation were assessed pre-intervention, post-intervention, and at 2-month follow-up. Results indicated that the intervention group showed significantly lower social digital stress and higher digital social adaptation post-intervention versus controls (ps < 0.001). These positive intervention effects remained stable at the 2-month follow-up (ps < 0.001). The findings indicate that digital feedback intervention effectively reduces digital stress and promotes adaptation, helping bridge the “digital divide.”