Creation and assessment of a digital well-being measurement tool for university students
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By
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Joseph Appianing
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Frank Quansah
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Roger Amoako
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July 17, 2026
Clinical Report: Creation and assessment of a digital well-being measurement tool
Overview
This study developed and validated the Digital Well-Being Scale (DWS) for university students. The DWS aims to assess digital well-being.
Background
Digital technologies play a significant role in the lives of university students, facilitating academic and social interactions while also presenting challenges such as distraction and emotional strain. Understanding digital well-being is crucial as it encompasses various dimensions of students' experiences with technology.
Data Highlights
| Factor | Description |
|---|---|
| Task Interference | Impact of digital engagement on academic tasks |
| Digital Safety and Responsible Use | Awareness and practices regarding safe technology use |
| Perceived Control and Satisfaction | Students' sense of control over their digital experiences |
| Digital Life Balance | Balance between digital engagement and other life aspects |
| Emotional Regulation | Ability to manage emotions in digital contexts |
| Digital Dependence and Frustration | Feelings of reliance on and frustration with technology |
Key Findings
- The DWS consists of 41 items across six factors related to digital well-being.
- Exploratory factor analysis supported a six-factor solution.
- Confirmatory factor analysis showed fit for the six-factor model.
- The scale demonstrated internal consistency and validity across gender.
- Measurement invariance analyses indicated partial support for scalar invariance across genders.
Clinical Implications
The DWS provides a framework for assessing digital well-being among students.
Conclusion
The Digital Well-Being Scale offers a tool for understanding digital well-being among university students.
Related Resources & Content
- Frontiers | Development and validation of the digital well-being scale using university students
- WHO/Europe, 2025 -- Addressing the digital determinants of youth mental health and well-being: policy brief
- BMC Medicine, 2025 -- Smartphone screen time reduction improves mental health: a randomized controlled trial
- npj Digital Medicine — Assessing Youth Mental Health Needs Through an Adaptive Digital Tool: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Analysis
- Frontiers in Psychiatry — Correction: Measuring mental wellbeing in clinical and non-clinical adolescents using the COMPAS-W Wellbeing Scale
- BMC Psychiatry (Springer) — A study on internet gaming disorder and its psychological associations in medical students at vocational colleges in China: a cross-sectional analysis
- Frontiers in Psychiatry — PERMA-based mobile psychological intervention with and without telephone support for university students: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
- Addressing the digital determinants of youth mental health and well-being: policy brief
- Smartphone screen time reduction improves mental health: a randomized controlled trial | BMC Medicine | Springer Nature Link
- Journal of Medical Internet Research - Investigating the Efficacy of the Web-Based Common Elements Toolbox (COMET) Single-Session Interventions in Improving UK University Student Well-Being: Randomized Controlled Trial
- Frontiers | Development and validation of the digital well-being scale using university students
- Frontiers | The relationship between academic burnout and problematic smartphone use: a three-level meta-analysis
- The digital well-being among learners in higher education: a scoping review | BMC Medical Education | Springer Nature Link
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