Latent profile analysis identified three distinct social network profiles among rural older adults with hypertension, with more socially connected profiles independently associated with significantly higher digital health readiness scores.
Key Findings
Results
Latent profile analysis identified three distinct social network profiles among rural older adults with hypertension in rural China.
The three profiles were: socially restricted (16.5% of participants), moderately connected (65.3%), and well-integrated (18.2%)
The study used the Lubben Social Network Scale-6 to measure social networks
Analysis was conducted on 576 rural older adults with hypertension in Hunan Province, China
The cross-sectional survey design used latent profile analysis as the person-centered analytical approach
Results
Social network profiles were independently associated with digital health readiness after controlling for demographic, socioeconomic, and health-related confounders.
Multivariable linear regression with forced entry was used to examine the association
The overall model was statistically significant: F11, 564 = 20.362, p < 0.001
The model explained 27.0% of variance in digital health readiness (adjusted R² = 0.270)
Digital health readiness was measured using the Digital Health Readiness Questionnaire (DHRQ)
Results
The moderately connected social network profile was associated with significantly higher digital health readiness scores compared to the socially restricted profile.
The moderately connected profile was associated with a 4.536-point higher DHRQ score compared to the socially restricted profile
95% CI: 1.346–7.726, p = 0.005
This comparison controlled for demographic, socioeconomic, and health-related confounders
Results
The well-integrated social network profile was associated with the highest digital health readiness scores compared to the socially restricted profile.
The well-integrated profile was associated with an 8.386-point higher DHRQ score compared to the socially restricted profile
95% CI: 4.447–12.326, p < 0.001
The well-integrated group (18.2% of sample) showed approximately double the score advantage of the moderately connected group (4.536 points) over the socially restricted group
This suggests a dose-response pattern between social integration and digital health readiness
Results
The majority of rural older adults with hypertension fell into the moderately connected social network profile.
65.3% of the 576 participants were classified as moderately connected
Only 16.5% were classified as socially restricted, representing the most vulnerable group for lower digital health readiness
18.2% were classified as well-integrated
The study was conducted in Hunan Province, China, using a cross-sectional design
What This Means
This research suggests that among older adults living in rural China who have high blood pressure, the strength and breadth of a person's social connections is meaningfully linked to how ready they are to use digital health tools and technologies. Using a statistical technique called latent profile analysis, researchers grouped 576 participants into three categories based on their social networks: those who were socially isolated ('socially restricted,' about 1 in 6 people), those with moderate social connections (nearly two-thirds of participants), and those who were well socially integrated (about 1 in 5 people). People with stronger social networks scored notably higher on a measure of digital health readiness, even after accounting for differences in age, income, education, and health status.
The differences in digital health readiness scores between groups were substantial and statistically meaningful. Compared to the socially restricted group, moderately connected individuals scored about 4.5 points higher, and well-integrated individuals scored about 8.4 points higher on the digital health readiness questionnaire. This pattern suggests that social connection may play an important role in supporting older adults' ability and willingness to engage with digital health technologies such as health apps, telemedicine, or online health monitoring.
This research suggests that digital health programs targeting rural older adults with hypertension might benefit from considering patients' social network characteristics rather than using one-size-fits-all approaches. Socially isolated older adults may face compounded disadvantages — both lower social support and lower readiness to use digital health tools — making them a priority group for targeted outreach and support. Strengthening social connections or designing digital health tools that incorporate social features could potentially improve health technology adoption in this population.
Xu E, Lin C, He J, Tang Y, Xiong Y, Pu Y, et al.. (2026). Latent profiles of social networks and their association with digital health readiness among rural older adults with hypertension.. Scientific reports. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-67008-9