Balanced Digital Lifestyles and Their Association with Mental Health and Social Well-Being in the Post-Pandemic Era: A Mixed-Methods Study

Abstract

This mixed-methods study investigated the associations between digital technology usage patterns and their influence on mental health outcomes and social well-being among adults in the post-pandemic era. We employed a cross-sectional design across 25 urban and semi-urban communities, recruiting 1200 participants aged 18 to 60 through stratified random sampling. Data collection included structured questionnaires, standardized mental health scales, and semi-structured interviews, with a final sample of 1172 valid responses analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, multiple linear regression, and structural equation modeling. The central hypothesis posited that balanced digital lifestyles would be positively associated with psychological well-being, whereas excessive screen time would correlate with adverse mental health indicators. Results revealed that 72.3% of participants reported high life satisfaction, while 34.6% experienced moderate to high stress and 22.7% reported moderate to high depression symptoms. Multiple linear regression identified healthy digital lifestyle practices (β = 0.42, p < 0.001), social connectedness (β = 0.39, p < 0.001), and physical activity (β = 0.31, p < 0.001) as significant positive predictors of mental health, whereas daily screen time (β = −0.27, p = 0.003) was a negative predictor; the model explained 70.8% of variance (R² = 0.708). Correlation analysis showed a strong positive relationship between healthy digital practices and social well-being (r = 0.75, p < 0.001), while excessive screen time was negatively correlated with mental health (r = −0.58, p < 0.001) and sleep quality (r = −0.54, p < 0.001). Structural equation modeling indicated good model fit (CFI = 0.96, RMSEA = 0.047). Notably, participants with balanced digital habits exhibited 24.8% higher mental health scores, 22.5% greater social connectedness, and 18.9% lower perceived stress compared to those with unhealthy patterns. This research contributes empirical evidence that fostering balanced digital lifestyles—through promoting healthy screen habits, physical activity, and digital well-being education—can significantly enhance mental health and social well-being in post-pandemic societies. These findings have important implications for public health strategies and educational interventions aimed at mitigating the negative effects of excessive technology use