Development and approbation of the Digital Wellbeing Index

Context and relevance. Digital transformations affecting all spheres of human activity and transitioning individuals into a mixed online/offline reality necessitate a new perspective on psychological phenomena and processes. Interest in the phenomenon of digital well-being (DWB) emerges in response to this demand and is considered an important component of an individual's overall well-being in the digital age. The study of DWB among young people – the most active and vulnerable group in the context of digitalization – is particularly relevant. The absence of a psychodiagnostic tool for assessing DWB in the context of online opportunities and online risks creates an urgent need to develop corresponding instrumentation. Objective. The development and testing of a Digital Wellbeing Index (DWBI) for the individual as an assessment of their satisfaction with development opportunities and safety in the mixed online/offline reality. Hypothesis. DWB is a multicomponent construct and is significantly associated with indicators of personal wellbeing and digital competence. Methods and materials. The study sample included 949 respondents aged 18–39 years. Based on the theoretical model, a primary version of the questionnaire with 85 items, 3 scales, and 11 subscales was developed. To check validity, Ryff’s Psychological Well-Being Scale, Schwarzer and Jerusalem’s General Self-Efficacy Scale, Diener’s Satisfaction with Life Scale, and the screening version of the Digital Competence Index were used. Results. CFA confirmed the reliable and valid structure of the DWBI, consisting of 3 scales and 10 subscales (54 items): "Self-Efficacy and Access and Safety Management", "Satisfaction with Digital Sociality", and "Risks to Digital Wellbeing". It was revealed that two-thirds of the sample demonstrate an optimal level of DWB. Gender and age differences were found: higher DWB indicators were observed in women and respondents aged 18–24. The scales and subscales of the DWBI were associated with indicators of psychological wellbeing and digital competence. Regression analysis confirmed the significant contribution of all DWBI scales to general psychological well-being. Conclusions. The DWBI is the first reliable and valid Russian-language tool for a comprehensive assessment of an individual's DWB. The research confirmed that DWB is a significant part of overall wellbeing and can be considered an additional dimension of digital socialization. The results underscore the need to consider socio-demographic factors and the importance of developing practical programs to support DWB, especially for at-risk groups.

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