Digital disconnection, digital inequality, and subjective well-being: a mobile experience sampling study

Abstract

Abstract Drawing on theories of digital media (non-)use and well-being, this study examines how voluntary disconnection relates to subjective well-being and what role digital skills play in this relationship. We rely on mobile experience sampling methods to link nuanced disconnection practices throughout the day (e.g., putting screen devices away and muting notifications) with momentary experiences of well-being. We collected 4,028 responses from 105 mobile media users over the course of one week. Multilevel regression analyses revealed neither significant within-person effects of disconnection on affective well-being, social connectedness, or life satisfaction, nor a significant moderation effect of digital skills. Exploratory analyses, however, show that effects of disconnection on well-being vary greatly across participants, and that effects are dependent on whether one disconnects in the physical copresence of others. Our study offers a refined perspective on the consequences, or lack thereof, of deliberate non-use of technology in the digital age.