Household Internet Research Articles

Digital Family Access and Depressive Tendency in Rural Children: Digital Usages as A Mediator

Given the the digital era, mental health of rural children is of particular concern. Taking a total of 314 rural children in Linquan County, Fuyang City, Anhui Province, as survey respondents, and using a combination of descriptive statistics, correlation and regression analysis, this study aimed to explore the effects of digital family access on rural children's depressive tendency, and to analyse the personal digital usage as a mediator. The results of the study showed that household Internet devices had a significantly and positively impact on rural children's depressive tendency, while restrictive parental roles were negatively associated with depression. In addition, digital leisure use was identified as a mediating variable. The results of this study highlight the importance of the family in the regulation of children's digital use and children's psychological problems, and provide a basis for the development of relevant policies and interventions.

Factors Influencing Household Debt Structure under Various Credit Constraints

Household debt is a critical component of family financial management, especially considering the prevalence of credit constraints. This study investigates the determinants of Chinese household debt structure, focusing on the choice between formal and informal borrowing and the proportion of formal debt under different credit constraints. Data from the 2018 China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) are analyzed using the bi-probit model. The results indicate that higher levels of household education and internet use significantly enhance the likelihood of accruing formal debt and weaken the tendency to engage in informal debt. This study innovatively employs the KZ index, traditionally used in corporate finance, to assess credit constraints at the household level. This new household credit constraint index demonstrates that the factors affecting the debt structure vary with the level of credit constraints, underscoring the complexity of household financial behaviors in China’s evolving credit landscape.

Spatial econometric analysis of the digital divide in Thailand at the sub-district level: Patterns and determinants

This study explores spatial patterns of the digital divide and its determinants at the sub-district level in Thailand, uncovering nuanced patterns often overlooked in the in prior literature. To our knowledge, no studies in the digital divide field have offered such detailed estimations. Based on the Spatially Aware Technology Utilization Model, we constructed a conceptual model tailored to the digital divide's geospatial context in Thailand. Using a spatial econometric approach, we analyzed the 2021 data set on basic household necessities provided by Thailand's Community Development Department. The results show a positive spatial autocorrelation of the household internet access divide (HIAD) across Thailand's sub-districts. This spatial clustering tended to be high–high in the sub-districts located in the northeastern and northern regions, with low–low agglomerations in the central region of Thailand. In addition, the spatial econometric analysis results indicated that the HIAD may be influenced by various factors including demographic, economic, educational, government ICT prioritization, social capital, transportation, and disaster-related variables. This study provides both theoretical and policy implications to enrich geographic knowledge of the digital divide, specifically in the context of developing countries.

Household vulnerability to and preparedness for disasters in Haiti

This paper examines the socioeconomic factors correlated with vulnerability to natural hazards using data from the High-Frequency Phone Survey conducted in 2021, 2022, and 2023. The results indicate a high overall exposure to hazards, with a significant number of households facing the threat of multiple hazards. Approximately 76 percent of respondents reside in households facing 3 or more hazards. Furthermore, the analysis finds that disaster preparedness is generally low, with the poorest households experiencing the most significant challenges: households in the two bottom wealth quintiles are less likely to have the necessary supplies to prepare for and respond to disasters sufficiently compared to those in the upper quintiles. Moreover, the household head's education level and internet access are found to be correlated with the likelihood of better disaster preparedness. This suggests that higher levels of education and internet access play a significant role in improving preparedness levels among households. These findings highlight the importance of addressing socioeconomic factors when developing strategies to enhance resilience to natural hazards. Policymakers can mitigate the negative impacts of natural disasters on affected communities by improving disaster preparedness among the most vulnerable households and promoting education and internet access.

Being a householder speaking a foreign language: Foreign language proficiency and the internet technology adoption of the household

This study employs microdata from the China Labor-force Dynamics Survey to investigate the influence of foreign language proficiency on the adoption of Internet technology within households. The results indicate that householders who are proficient in foreign languages are more likely to adopt Internet technology at home than those who lack such knowledge. The greater the foreign language proficiency of the householder, the greater the likelihood of Internet technology adoption. Further analyses indicate that the positive effect of foreign language proficiency on the Internet technology adoption of the household in China is more pronounced in male-headed households, in urban areas, and in eastern and central regions. This study also identifies three potential mechanisms by which foreign language proficiency influences household Internet technology adoption: the information effect, the trust effect, and the income effect. These findings contribute to the understanding of the role of language proficiency in technology adoption at the household level, offer new insights into the positive outcomes of foreign language education in China, and encourage measures to reduce digital inequality among households through language learning.

Analysis of Inequality in Household Internet Utilization and Policy Implications

Analysis of Inequality in Household Internet Utilization and Policy Implications

Socio-Cultural Factors and Components of the Digital Economy in Ethnic Minority Regions

We define the digital economy as all economic activities conducted through the use of information technologies, including activities to create new markets, expand old ones, and produce digital goods and services. The digital economy has become a major driver of sustainable development and the transition towards a greener economy. However, studies show an unequal level of progress among cities, regions, and countries. Consequently, this paper explores the associations between socio-cultural factors (such as attitudes towards marriage/raising a family) and components of the digital economy (such as expenses/investment in ICT and the proportion of personal computers and the Internet in households). This study specifically examines twenty-two ethnic minority regions in Russia with data covering a five-year period. Using the Pearson correlation coefficient, the results show that socio-cultural factors including a large urban population and high divorce rates were positively associated with the digital economy, whereas a large rural population, higher birth rates, and higher natural population growth were negatively correlated with the digital economy.

Association between women’s empowerment and contraceptive failure in Indonesia: 2017 IDHS data analysis

Background: Contraceptive failure has negative consequences, including unwanted pregnancies and abortions, which can cause maternal morbidity and mortality. Contraceptive failure is influenced by individual factors such as the user and the quality of the contraceptive method/device. One of the individual factors is the cultural factor which can be seen from the empowerment of women in improving the quality of health, including the use of contraception. There is no study which has discussed women’s empowerment as the determination of contraceptive failure. Purpose: Therefore, this study aims to analyze the association of women’s empowerment in contraception failure in Indonesia. Methods: The data source used is the results of the 2017 IDHS (Indonesia’s Demographic and Health Survey) with the unit of analysis from the period of using contraceptives to women who get pregnant while using contraceptives. The dependent variable is the duration of contraceptive usage. The main independent variable is women’s empowerment as measured by four indicators, namely asset ownership in the name of the wife, ability of decision-making in the household, ability to earn cash by working, and attending at least junior high school. Data were analyzed using the survival analysis method. Results: The results of the analysis show that the four factors of women’s empowerment have a significant negative association with contraceptive failure after controlling for socioeconomic, demographic, and environmental factors. Conclusion: Variables that are positively associated with contraceptive failure are participation in household decisions, education, residence status, and internet usage. Variables that are negatively associated with contraceptive failure are asset ownership, working status, and number of children.

IMPACT OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY ON THE DIGITAL ECONOMY

Purpose. The article explores the impact of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and their role and place in the dynamics of the digital economy. The aim of this research is to assess the impact of the digital economy on GDP per capita in EU countries. Methodology. Analysis of ICT as a key factor in enhancing economic growth through the implementation of digital technology opportunities. Panel data from Eurostat and the World Bank covering EU countries from 2014 to 2021 were used for analysis. A correlation analysis was then conducted between variables, and the model was relevant for forecasting. Results. The number of studies on the impact of Information and Communication Technologies on the economic growth of countries has increased in recent years. However, there is still no assessment of the real GDP impact on the level of household Internet access in the EU area. Studying this gap in the literature allows us to draw conclusions about the implications for stakeholders regarding more effective implementation of the digital agenda. Scientific novelty. The digital economy, measured by Internet, mobile phone, and fixed broadband access, influences the economic growth of a country. This, in turn, depends on the level of technology measures covering the digital economy. ICT positively influence the development of countries' economies and can be used as tools by stakeholders. These agents should generate policies that enhance ICT technological infrastructure, digital empowerment of the population, and greater access to ICT. The GDP level model is presented as a function of Internet access for households in the EU area along with a short-term forecast for this index. It is shown that investments in ICT infrastructure are indispensable for the development of a strong knowledge- and digital technology-based economy. Practical significance. The research results will help in identifying opportunities and levers of influence for governmental institutions and other socio-economic systems on the impact of digital economy development processes on GDP per capita in EU countries.

基于多元回归模型研究金融素养对家庭互联网理财的影响

基于多元回归模型研究金融素养对家庭互联网理财的影响

Disparities in access to healthcare services in a regional neonatal transport network

IntroductionThe disproportionate distribution of healthcare resources in the U.S. leads to an annual estimated 68,000 critically-ill newborns transported to regional centers for intensive care. As described in the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety (SEIPS) 3.0 framework, patients with limited access to healthcare experience multiple healthcare settings in their journey to specialty care. Little is known about community resources for transported neonatal patients in the Pacific Northwest region. MethodsTransport data from January 2014–December 2019 identified referral zip codes for transfers to a regional neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Using the SEIPS 3.0 framework to explore the journey of families experiencing neonatal complications, we linked referral zip codes to data on healthcare and resource access including: Health Transportation Shortage Index (HTSI); US Census Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates; public transportation availability; Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) and number of Federally Qualified Health Centers. Results1834 neonatal transports from 75 zip codes were analyzed. Forty percent of patients were transferred from a HPSA, one-quarter from areas with limited public transit availability (28%) and household internet access (24%). Almost all infants transferred from a high HTSI area (96%) were transported by air. ConclusionMany patients were referred from communities with high poverty and limited services. Improving patient outcomes requires population and policy level recommendations and care coordination between healthcare organizations and community services. Considering the patient family perspective within the SEIPS 3.0 framework will ensure patient centered care and an inclusive experience for families transitioning through healthcare settings.

GIS-based model for the assessment of the smart sustainable development of municipalities of Northeast Bulgaria

In recent years, Bulgarian municipalities have introduced smart development systems. The Bulgarian state is at the top of the world rankings regarding household internet access and connection speed. The authors develop and validate a GIS-based model for the analysis and evaluation of sustainable cities. The authors conclude that in a global digital economy and society, Bulgarian regions need to improve the accessibility of WI-FI networks to meet the challenges of Smart Development. In recent years, the authors have observed a growth of Smart Cities initiatives in large areas of Northeast Bulgaria. However, Bulgarian municipalities in the study area are lagging in deploying smart governance systems.

Demand for internet services before and during the Covid-19 pandemic: what lessons are we learning in South Africa?

The primary aim of this study was to assess the demand for internet services before and during the Covid-19 pandemic, considering the challenges and opportunities brought about by the global health crisis. While the pandemic has had numerous negative impacts on people's lives, it has also facilitated advancements in technology, particularly the adoption of the 4th industrial revolution. To explore the positive impacts of these technological advancements, the study focused on analysing changes in household internet usage using the 2019 and 2021 General Household Survey data obtained from STATS SA. The study examined the shifts in internet usage between the two data sets and found a modest increase in internet usage over time. To further investigate the determinants of household internet usage, the study employed descriptive analysis, cross-tabulations, and a binary logistic regression model. Income, age, household size, and gender were used as independent variables, while internet usage served as the dependent variable. The results revealed that all the independent variables were statistically significant factors influencing the probability of internet usage. Income and household size demonstrated a positive relationship with internet usage, indicating that higher levels of income and larger household sizes were associated with increased demand for internet services. Conversely, the age of the household head showed a negative effect on internet usage, suggesting that as individuals grew older, their likelihood of using the internet decreased. Additionally, the study found that male-headed households exhibited higher levels of internet usage compared to their female counterparts. To ensure that digital inclusion is prioritized, it is crucial for authorities to ensure that internet access is accessible to low-income households. Addressing the disparity in internet usage between higher and lower-income households is essential. Government regulators can encourage broadband providers to expand affordable internet access, while reducing administrative burdens to facilitate network deployment, thereby supporting the current levels of internet usage, and promoting further growth. By considering these findings, policymakers and stakeholders can develop strategies to bridge the digital divide and ensure equal access to internet services for all segments of society. This will contribute to a more inclusive and equitable digital landscape, fostering social and economic development in the medium to long term.

Household pandemic Internet search intensity and stock returns: A case of tourism industry resiliency

This paper uses the Google Internet search volume index to capture pandemic attention and examines the effect of COVID-19 on the stock returns of the tourism industry. We find a significant negative effect of pandemic attention sentiment on tourism industry stock returns. The results are robust to the inclusion of alternative pandemic information variables and firm and business cycle controls. Results suggest that large-size firms, firms with better growth opportunities, and value stocks are more resilient to mitigate uncertainty induced by the pandemic. Investors welcome governmental economic policy interventions and thus adjust their return expectations less negatively. Finally, we find that the country's cultural dimension, government efficiency, stable financial system, and health system help to mitigate the downside risk of stock price movements induced by the pandemic.

The effect of the digital economy on total factor productivity in European regions

The digital economy, most backed by proliferation of information and technology (ICTs), provides impressive opportunities for firms, regions and countries productivity growth. This paper investigates the effect of the digital economy proxied by e-government, e-commerce, and household internet users at home on total factor productivity-measured using Törnqvist index across 182 EU27 NUTS2 regions over the period 2006 to 2020. For robustness of the results, we also use Malmquist index method. By deploying system GMM estimation, we find that digital economy has positive and significant impact on total factor productivity across the European regions. Therefore, public policies should support investment in digital infrastructure, and improve the digital literacy across laggard regions of Europe. Such policies would remove digital inequalities across European regions and increase total factor productivity towards EU social and economic cohesion.

Addressing the Digital Divide: Access and Use of Technology in Education

The digital divide, characterized by disparities in access to and use of technology, presents a significant challenge in education. This study aims to investigate the impact of the digital divide on students' access to technology and its influence on their educational outcomes. A quantitative research methodology was employed, with a sample size of 400 students from diverse educational backgrounds. The study utilized survey questionnaires to gather data on internet access, device ownership, and technology use in education. The findings revealed variations in internet access across different age groups, with younger individuals having higher levels of access compared to older age groups. Additionally, disparities in household internet access were observed between rural and urban areas, with rural areas experiencing lower connectivity. Gender-based differences in personal device ownership were also evident, highlighting potential gender-related digital divides. Moreover, students from low-income households faced lower levels of internet access, indicating a socioeconomic divide in technology access. Additionally, the study emphasizes the importance of establishing technology resource centers in schools and fostering public-private partnerships to bridge the technology gap in education. The study contributes to the existing body of knowledge by providing insights into the digital divide and offering recommendations for addressing this issue in the field of education.

Household and Individual Digitisation and Deprivation: A Comparative Analysis Between Italian and Spanish Regions

AbstractDespite the progress of the information society, there are currently still notable differences between the access to, and usage of, information and communication technologies (ICTs) and Internet for a broad range of activities by individuals in the regions of Italy and Spain. These differences could be related to features of material and social deprivation. With 13 variables of the 40 NUTS 2 of Italy and Spain, deriving from EUROSTAT regional statistics for 2018, the aim is to respond to the following questions. Is there a relationship between the variables of ICT access and usage by households and individuals and those of social and material deprivation in the regions analysed? What is the interrelationship? Are there differences between Spanish and Italian regions in the behaviour of spatial and regional factors? Factor analysis was used to discover the relationship between variables; spatial patterns were identified by means of spatial autocorrelation; and a typology of regions has been identified by using cluster analysis. The results show that there is a relationship between the variables of ICT access and usage by households and individuals and those of deprivation in Spanish and Italian regions, and indicate that the advanced and daily use of Internet in households is negatively associated with the variables of social deprivation; and the regions with higher levels of per capita income and daily access to Internet have less employment-linked material deprivation. These results also reveal the existence of a north–south spatial pattern in both countries, and six types of regions with homogeneous characteristics have been identified.

Revisiting Economic Hardship in a National Sample of Adolescents With and Without Disabilities: A Conceptual Replication

The purpose of the current study was to conceptually replicate a multi-indicator construct of economic hardship in a national sample of adolescents with and without disabilities ( N = 9,230). Using data from the National Longitudinal Transition Study 2012 (NLTS2012), the latent construct economic hardship was confirmed from six theoretically relevant indicators: household income, parent education level, parent employment status, one- or two-parent household, household internet access, and participation in government-assisted social programs (e.g., Supplemental Security Income benefits, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families). In addition, we examined group differences on the latent mean of economic hardship based on disability category, race and ethnicity, and school and family factors. Mean differences showed significantly lower economic hardship for youth on 504 plans, youth with autism, and for White non-Hispanic youth; whereas there was significantly greater hardship for youth with intellectual disability and youth with emotional disturbance and among youth of color. The implications of the replicated and expanded findings for adolescents with and without disabilities are discussed.

Factors associated with comorbidity for depression, anxiety, and stress screening in a sample of a Brazilian university’s community during Covid-19 pandemic

Backgrouund: Mental health is a major public health challenge wordwide and affected people may present more than one mental outcomes simultaneosly. Purpose: To describe the prevalence of comorbidity in screening for depression, anxiety, and stress, as well as determinants of these comorbidity in a university’s community in Mid-West Brazil during the Covid-19. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive/exploratory study used self-report DASS-21 to screen for mental health. Data from a non-probabilistic sample was obtained online between April 10 and May 25, 2020. Multinomial model was used to identify factors associated with comorbidity. Results: The majority of the sample was students (78.84%), women (65.53%), white (54.18%), single (71.33%), aged 18-29 years old (67.26%), with an overall mean age of 28.3 years (sd = 10.1), 85.63% refered household internet access. 14.48%, 12.42%, and 31.12% screened positive for one, two and all the 3 outcomes, respectively. Students, having children, substance use, presenting Covid-19’s symptoms, worsened self-rated emotional state, and previous mental disorders were associated with comorbidity for depression, anxiety, and stress. Conclusions: Individuals from the studied university’s community experienced psychological disorders, as measured by levels of anxiety, depression, and stress and comorbidity for these outcomes, probably as Covid-19’s initial psychological impact.

Explaining Connectedness: An Exploration of the Factors Affecting Internet Access in India

Access to the internet can promote education, upskilling, human capital, and national and international economic outcomes. However, the household internet access rate in India in 2011 was 10.1% (Roser et al., 2015). Using data from the 2011 Indian Census, this study analyses the impact of computer access, area, literacy, and working rates alongside a gender perspective to explain district-wise household internet access. The analysis demonstrates that access to computers, area, male activity, and literacy significantly explain the internet access rates observed in Indian districts. The study concludes that socio-demographic factors influence the internet uptake and digital divide in India. The conclusion of this paper contributes to theoretical discussions of the digital divide in the modern history of India and provides implications for policy and market expansion in India.