DIGWELLEU Project Revealing Key Insights into Digital Well-being Across Europe
The University of Birmingham Business School recently hosted the final meeting of the DIGWELLEU: Exploratory approach for a social impact assessment of digital well-being amongst the adult population in European countries project, part of the EUniWell Well-Being Incubator initiative, where an international team of researchers unveiled groundbreaking findings on digital well-being across Europe. The DIGWELLEU project, with over 1,000 responses per country, has become one of Europe’s most extensive studies on digital well-being among adults.
The meeting commenced with an analysis of focus group findings that revealed an undercurrent of anxiety about the pervasive role of technology. Participants expressed a growing discomfort tied to constant digital exposure and dependency. Yet, data from the broader survey sample illustrated a complex view: digital well-being is closely linked to other dimensions of personal well-being, including emotional and spiritual health. Across three main areas—personal, professional, and socio-civic—the survey findings highlighted extensive technology integration. Notably, individuals identified as heavy technology users were also more likely to adopt proactive digital strategies, but achieving a healthy digital balance is complex with technologies having mixed effects on emotional and social well-being.
During the meeting, the DIGWELLEU team introduced a comprehensive analysis plan to rigorously examine both survey and focus group data. An initial draft of findings was presented, setting the stage for practical recommendations. The session concluded with a plan for disseminating these insights to policymakers, educators, and the public across Europe. Backed by EUniWell, DIGWELLEU aims to promote digital habits that nurture a balanced and healthy relationship with technology continent-wide.
“Our research demonstrates how to empirically assess this complex phenomenon using specific indicators on personal, workplace and social levels to understand how people perceive both the risks and benefits of digital media in their daily lives,” noted the team. Methodologically, findings are grounded in two core resources: an initial intercultural focus group that informed a structured online survey, administered to 3,000 individuals across three countries. Coordinating the DIGWELLEU project has been a remarkable opportunity, stated María del Mar Grandío, project lead from the University of Murcia. “The financial support and outstanding project management from the EUniWell team have been invaluable. We are committed to continuing this fascinating line of work, pushing forward with impactful research on digital wellbeing across Europe”.
Further information
Researchers: María del Mar Grandío, Rocío Zamora, Juan Miguel Aguado, Pilar Garrido (University of Murcia); Daniel Wheatley (University of Birmingham); Silvio de Magestris (University of Florence).
The DIGWELLEU project was implemented as part of the Well-Being Incubator Programme under the EUniWell #Research project.
The EUniWell #Research project receives funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101035821.
Contact
María del Mar Grandío: mgrandio[at]um.es
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