Disconnect to recharge: Well-being benefits of digital disconnection in daily life
Gilbert A, Klingelhöfer J, Meier A (2026)
Publication Language: English
Publication Status: Submitted
Publication Type: Unpublished / Preprint
Future Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2026
Abstract
Many aim to recalibrate and reduce their digital media use to improve well-being. We test the associations of digital disconnection with a set of positive, negative, and social indicators of well-being in a two-week experience sampling study. N = 237 participants reported on T = 12,407 situations in daily life. Results show that in situations in which participants disconnected more than usual, they reported higher affective well-being, energy, and social connectedness (within-person effects). In contrast, those who generally disconnected more than others reported no differences in well-being (between-person effects). Intrinsic motivation for disconnection positively moderated associations with affective well-being, energy, and social connectedness between persons. Disconnection was not related to stress, neither within nor between persons. The study further explores whether well-being effects differ depending on the aspects of digital media participants disconnected from. Overall, findings demonstrate how digital disconnection can achieve momentary – but not necessarily lasting – improvements in well-being.
Authors with CRIS profile
Julius Klingelhöfer
Assistant Professorship for Communication Science
Adrian Meier
Assistant Professorship for Communication Science
Involved external institutions
Germany (DE)How to cite
APA:
Gilbert, A., Klingelhöfer, J., & Meier, A. (2026). Disconnect to recharge: Well-being benefits of digital disconnection in daily life. (Unpublished, Submitted).
MLA:
Gilbert, Alicia, Julius Klingelhöfer, and Adrian Meier. Disconnect to recharge: Well-being benefits of digital disconnection in daily life. Unpublished, Submitted. 2026.
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