Can smartphone use affect chronic disease self-management among Chinese middle-aged and older adults? A moderated mediation model

Chronic disease self-management is influenced by many factors. Previous studies have linked patients' media use with chronic disease self-management, but the underlying mechanisms of this relationship are less understood. The purpose of this study is to explore the mediating role of family health (FH) between frequency of smartphone use (FOSU) and self-management behaviors among middle-aged and older patients with chronic diseases (SBAMAOPWCD) through a moderated mediation model, and whether this indirect relationship is modified by the solitary status of middle-aged and older Chinese patients with chronic disease. Surveys were collected from 1,424 ( = 1,424; age > 45) middle-aged and older with one or more chronic conditions in China on self-reports of FOSU, FH and Chronic disease self-management behaviors were used to examine the moderated mediation model. The results showed that the FOSU was significantly and positively associated with SBAMAOPWCD ( = 0.220,