Impression of excessive digital media utilization on psychological well-being: A case of Pakistan’s metropolitan cities

Abstract

Digital media utilization assumes an imperative part in changing millennials’ way of life. The rapid growth in the usage of digital media may have an impact on the mental prosperity of users. The primary focus of this research is to examine how excessive usage of digital media affects its consumers' psychological well-being in Pakistan's major cities. In January this year, there were 72 million digital media users in Pakistan, equal to 32% of the total population, of which 28% of Pakistan is between the ages of 26-41 (Kemp, 2022). This is the most probable age group to be used and influenced by digital media. Based on prior works, it delivers a more inclusive study of the spectacle by the view of independent variables (social capital, social isolation, and smartphone addiction), dependent variable (psychological well-being), and one mediator (excessive digital media utilization). This study sheds light on the best ways to mitigate the negative effects of using digital media, which claims to have a clear adverse effect on mental health through social capital creation and management. Overall, this research provides important insights for academics, scholars, and society at large. This paper consists of a quantitative approach of 236 users from metropolitan cities in Pakistan with the help of structural equation modeling to test the projected propositions. The research study could be additionally upgraded if we center around more factors and other various areas of Pakistan for exploring the effect of excessive digital media utilization on mental prosperity.