Abstract
Using data from the 2016, 2018, and 2020 waves of the China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (CLASS), this study investigated the association between digital social integration and life satisfaction among Chinese older adults, as well as the possible mediating role of employment status. Results show that better digital social integration was significantly associated with better life satisfaction, and the association was more pronounced among older adults in urban area, with higher level social security or education. In addition, we found that employment status mediated the association between digital social integration and life satisfaction among Chinese older adults. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12877-026-07343-8.