Abstract
This research aimed to determine the direct effect of digital empowerment elements, namely digital awareness (DA), digital motivation (DM), digital technical access (DTA), and digital competence (DC) on quality of life (QOL) among the elderly in China and the moderation of gender in the effect of digital empowerment elements on QOL. This research employed a quantitative research approach. A sample of 576 elderly individuals aged 60 and above was selected through stratified sampling technique from 10 parks in Shandong Province. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire, which was distributed through face-to-face surveys. The Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) technique was employed to test the proposed hypotheses. The findings revealed that DA (_=0.262, p-value=0.000), DTA (_=0.223, p-value=0.000), and DC (_=0.298, pvalue= 0.000) have a significant and positive effect on QOL, while DM (_=0.045, pvalue= 0.308) showed no significant effect on QOL. The findings also showed that gender significantly moderated the effect of DA (__2=7.62, p-value=0.006), DTA (__2=19.038, p-value=0.000), and DC (__2=19.59, p-value=0.000) on QOL, whereas it did not moderate the effect of DM (__2=0.119, p-value=0.73) on QOL. In conclusion, digital empowerment plays a crucial role in enhancing the quality of life for the elderly, particularly in China, and efforts to promote digital empowerment should account for gender differences. In terms of implications, to improve the quality of life for the elderly, relevant authorities in China should implement policies that focus on enhancing digital empowerment, with particular attention to digital awareness, digital technical access, and digital competence and all related programs should be gender-sensitive, addressing the unique needs and challenges faced by elderly individuals of different genders to ensure more equitable outcomes.