Digital technology-enabled public services and rural residents’ subjective wellbeing: synergies and pathways in China

Introduction The rapid advancement of digital technologies has made exploring how public service delivery impacts rural residents’ subjective well-being (SWB) a critical scholarly focus. Rural SWB is not only pivotal to China’s rural revitalization but also constrained by uneven public service access and digital disparities. This study addresses the gap in existing research in which digital technology and public services are often examined in isolation by investigating their synergistic mechanism. Methods Drawing on survey data from 2,154 rural residents in Henan Province (a major agricultural region in China), we constructed an integrated “empowerment-mediation” framework. Public service provision was evaluated across four dimensions (adequacy, equity, accessibility, inclusiveness), and digital technology development via four indicators (infrastructure deployment, factor inputs, industrial outputs, transactional ecosystems). Rigorous econometric methods were employed, including ordinary least squares (OLS), robustness checks, endogeneity processing (IV-2SLS), heterogeneity analysis, and mechanism tests. Results Both public service delivery and digital technology exert significantly positive direct effects on rural residents’ SWB. Critically, digital technology exhibits a strong synergistic effect: it amplifies the SWB-enhancing impact of public services by optimizing resource allocation and reducing access barriers. Heterogeneity analysis reveals differentiated impacts: public services universally benefit all groups (particularly low-income and less educated residents), while digital technology primarily advantages middle-to-high income and high-digital-literacy cohorts. Mechanism tests validate four key empowerment pathways: infrastructure integration, expanded educational and healthcare resources, enriched cultural and social interactions, and improved daily living convenience. Discussion These findings provide robust theoretical support for targeted policies in digital-era rural revitalization. They highlight the need to bridge the digital divide and promote inclusive synergy between digital technology and public services, ensuring that the welfare dividends of digitalization and improved public services reach all rural residents.