Do Disconnection Strategies Improve Well-Being and Productivity? A Two-Wave Panel Study Over One Month

The self-regulation of mobile media use through digital disconnection is frequently proposed as an option to avoid undesirable outcomes of constant connectivity, such as reduced well-being, lower productivity and more distraction. Based on models of digital well-being and self-regulation, this study investigates whether using digital disconnection strategies can be an effective way to increase well-being and productivity and reduce distractions. We address this question in a two-wave panel study with N = 847 internet users and a lag of one month between both waves. The results of a cross-lagged panel model show that using disconnection strategies was associated with subsequent improved subjective well-being. This effect remains robust when controlling for sociodemographic variables. However, the frequency of employing digital disconnection strategies was not associated with perceived productivity or perceived distraction one month later. We discuss why digital disconnection can help to improve digital well-being and when disconnection may affect perceptions of productivity and distraction.