Disconnect to Recharge: Well-Being Benefits of Digital Disconnection in Daily Life

Well-being is among the prime motivations to reduce one’s digital media use. This study examines momentary and lagged associations between digital disconnection and positive, negative, and relational indicators of well-being. In an experience sampling design, N = 237 participants reported T = 12,407 situations over 2 weeks. Results show that when participants disconnected more than usual, they reported higher affective well-being, energy, and social connectedness (within-person associations). In contrast, after adding controls, those who generally disconnected more than others reported no differences in well-being (between-person associations). Disconnection was not related to stress, neither within nor between persons. However, associations partly depended on controlling for work versus leisure media use. Intrinsic motivation for disconnection positively moderated associations with affective well-being, energy, and social connectedness between persons. We further explored how associations differed across disconnection levels and time lags. Overall, digital disconnection was related to higher well-being situationally – but not over time.