With the development of the ageing process and the advancement of new-type urbanization, the size of empty-nest older adults gradually increases. The expansion of the Internet has enabled more older adults to access the Internet. Based on the data from the China General Social Survey (CGSS) from 2010 to 2018, this study estimates the age-period-cohort effects and the impacts of Internet use on the health status of empty-nest older adults. The results show that there are period and cohort effects, but not age effects, on the changes in the mental health of empty-nest older adults. However, there are age and period effects, but not cohort effects, on the changes in physical health. Internet use has a significant positive impact on the physical and mental health of empty-nest older adults, mainly through social and learning pathways. The impact of Internet use on the health of empty-nest older adults is greater for those aged 75 and above, as well as for rural empty-nest older adults. Compared to non-empty-nest older adults, there is a greater impact of Internet use on the health of empty-nest older adults. We propose promoting Internet use among the empty-nest older adults and building an age-friendly digital society.

This study utilizes the longitudinal survey data to investigate the age group differences in the impact of changes in family structure on the mortality risk of rural older adults. The results show that ‘always being in a linear family’ significantly reduced the mortality risk of older adults. ‘Changing from a linear family to a one-person family or a conjugal nuclear family’ resultes in a decline of the mortality risk of the older adults under age 75 while lead to an increase after controlling the intergenerational support and health condition. It also increases the mortality risk of the older adults above age 75. ‘Changing from a one-person family or a conjugal nuclear family to a linear family’ significantly reduces the mortality risk of the older adults above age 75. The results reveal that Chinese society is in a period of transition and coexistence of traditional and relatively modern family structures. Changes in family structure based on respect and care for life that meet the multi-dimensional care needs of the older adults benefit the health and life expectancy of older adults. Supporting the health development of younger older people under the changes of family structure will also lead to better health conditions when they grow much older in the future, thus further promote the realization of a healthy aging society in China.

Drawing upon data from “Well-being of Elderly People in Anhui Province Survey” from 2001 to 2015，this paper explores the dynamic relationship between household composition change and elderly people’s subjective well being (self-rated health and life satisfaction).The results show that the influence of household composition change on the subjective well-being of the elderly depends on their age.For the younger-old age period of the elderly，the presence of grandchildren in household composition change has a positive impact on the subjective well-being of the elderly，whereas the household composition change in which elderly live alone or only live with their children，the subjective well-being of the elderly improves more slowly.For the oldest-old age period of the elderly，the five kinds of household composition change significantly deteriorates the development level of the subjective well-being of the elderly.The life satisfaction of the elderly shows a non-linear development with age.During the whole life-cycle of the elderly，the subjective concept，self-efficacy，and the family roles of elderly people differentiate the influence of household composition change on older people's subjective well-being，and the household composition change has selection effects on the older people’s health.

The overall level of health literacy ( HL) in China in 2013 stood at 9．48%，contrasting the rural level of 6．92%with theurban level of 13．80%． The level of HL in Eastern China was 12．81%，while it was 6．93%in West China and 7．10% in Central China Region．The level of HL for female was 9．73%， higher than the male level of 9．23%．In addition，the HL rates of health knowledge and concept，health skills，and health life-style and behaviors was 20．42%，12．47%and 10．62% respectively．The HL rates of chronic diseases prevention，infectious diseases prevention，basic medical care，safety and first aid，scientific healthconcept，and health information was respectively 11．59%，17．12%， 8. 30%，43．53%，32. 12% and 18．46%．The results suggest that the level of health literacy of Chinese urban and rural residents is low，but still differs substantially across different areas and sub-populations．