Developing a Technology-Leveraged Intervention Framework for Gerontological Social Work: Evidence From the Nationally Representative CLASS 2023 Study

Objective: Using nationally representative data, this study empirically investigates the association between access to smart eldercare devices and older adults’ aging attitudes, together with the underlying mechanisms, and develops an operational framework for technology-leveraged intervention to inform gerontological social work practice. Methods: Using 8,854 observations from the 2023 China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (CLASS), this study employed ordinary least squares (OLS) regression was to estimate the relationships of access to smart eldercare devices and the number of device categories with aging attitudes. Instrumental-variable estimation and propensity score matching were used to address endogeneity concerns. Bootstrap analyses examined the mediating roles of social participation and depressive-symptom risk. Heterogeneity analyses were conducted by population characteristics and device category. An “Elements-Functions-Empowerment” intervention framework was proposed based on the empirical results. Results: Both access to smart eldercare devices and the number of device categories were significant positive predictors of aging attitudes. Social participation showed partial mediation, whereas depressive-symptom risk showed full mediation. Positive associations with device access were significant only among younger-old adults, women, and educated older adults. Among device categories, a significant positive association was found only for health-monitoring devices. Conclusion: Based on the empirical findings, this study proposes an “Elements-Functions-Empowerment” intervention framework. It prioritizes health-monitoring devices and differentiated device provision and skills training, and emphasizes health-data feedback, emotional support, social participation groups, case management, and resource linkage as social work strategies to support the social and psychological functions of technology, empowerment, and active aging.