Improving Well-Being Through Digital Detoxification Among Social Media Users: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Digital Well-being

Background:

• Digital detoxification, a conscious break from smartphone use, is explored for well-being.
• Previous research shows inconsistent results, often focusing on negative impacts.
• A need exists to investigate the positive effects of digital detox on well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and meta-analyze the impact of digital detoxification on subjective well-being (SWB) and psychological well-being (PWB).
• To assess the overall efficacy of digital detox interventions.
• To explore factors influencing the effectiveness of digital detoxification.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review and meta-analysis of 26 eligible studies (8,147 participants).
• Quality assessment using Cochrane's Risk of Bias Tool.
• Statistical analysis performed using R Studio, including moderation and meta-regression analyses.

Main Results:

• Digital detoxification significantly improved SWB (SMD = 0.21) and PWB (SMD = 0.27).
• No publication bias was detected; funnel plot asymmetry was addressed.
• Moderation analysis indicated internet coverage, developmental status, location, intervention effectiveness, and risk of bias influenced SWB.

Conclusions:

• Digital detoxification is an effective strategy for improving both subjective and psychological well-being.
• Factors such as internet access, participant demographics, and study quality moderate the effectiveness of digital detox.
• Findings support digital detoxification as a valuable tool for enhancing digital well-being, informing future research and policy.