Empowering healthier lifestyles: patterns of digital tool use, self-efficacy, and affective balance in IBD-patients and a community sample

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The study involved 308 participants, including 157 with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and 151 from a community sample.
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Four latent profiles were identified: Highly Empowered Achievers, Moderately Empowered Strugglers, Balanced but IDT Avoiders, and Vulnerable and Disempowered.
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Highly Empowered Achievers reported higher life satisfaction and lower stress, anxiety, and greater health goal realization compared to other groups.
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IBD patients were more likely to belong to the Vulnerable and Disempowered group and less likely to be Highly Empowered Achievers.
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The study highlights the interaction of digital empowerment, self-efficacy, and emotional balance in supporting health-related personal strivings.

Frontiers In Digital Health

by Blanka Festő, Beatrix Rafael, Ábel Molnár, Tamás Szűcs, Sára Imola Csuka, Sanela Tóth-Njers, Anett Dávid, Barbara Horvát, Viola Sallay, Tamás Molnár, Tamás Martos
June 30, 2026

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