Evaluating digital well-being among generation Z college students: Index construction and method design
Anqi Huang
School of Business Administration, University of Science and Technology Liaoning
Sen Liu
School of Business Administration, University of Science and Technology Liaoning
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59429/bam.v8i1.13632
Keywords: generation Z college students; digital well-being; evaluation index system; entropy weight method; fuzzy comprehensive evaluation
Abstract
For Generation Z college students—Digital natives—Their digital well-being is a critical contemporary issue. This study conceptualizes digital well-being for this cohort and proposes a five-dimension evaluation framework encompassing usage experience, autonomy and control, growth efficacy, social relationships, and security perception. This framework comprises 20 secondary indicators and 61 observation points. An evaluation approach, integrating the entropy weight method with fuzzy comprehensive evaluation, is then designed and applied to a sample of ten students. This research provides a theoretical foundation and an objective assessment tool to support future quantitative investigations in this domain.
References
[1] X.X. Huang and G.L. Yu: Digital well-being: the demand of the times for mental health education, Hebei Academic Journal, Vol. 44 (2024) No. 2, p.186-192. (In Chinese).
[2] J. Wang and A.S. Liu: A review of concepts, theoretical models and measurements related to digital well-being,
Chinese Mental Health Journal, Vol. 39 (2025) No. 9, p.794-801. (In Chinese).
[3] V.B. Arslankara, A. Demir, Ö. Öztas, et al.: Digital Well-Being Scale validity and reliability study, Journal of Teacher Education and Lifelong Learning, Vol. 4 (2022) No. 2, p.263-274.
[4] A.P.D.N. Kara: Validity and reliability study of the digital well-being scale, Online Journal of New Horizons in Education, Vol. 13 (2023) No. 4, p.512-520.
[5] C.P. Prakash: Digital Wellbeing: Scale Development and Integrative Model Testing (Ph.D., Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand 2023).
[6] J. Mathew, S. Nair, R. Gomes, et al.: Design and validation of the digital well-being scale, Journal of Theories and Research in Education, Vol. 18 (2023) No. 1, p.239-251.
[7] J. Rosič, L. Carbone, M.M.P. Vanden Abeele, et al.: Measuring digital well-being in everyday life among Slovenian adolescents: the perceived Digital Well-being in Adolescence Scale, Journal of Children and Media, Vol. 18 (2024) No. 1, p.99-119.
[8] S.L. Deng, X.J. Yuan and X.Y. Rong: Research on digital happiness evaluation based on three-dimensional structural model, Information and Documentation Services, Vol. 46 (2025) No. 3, p.47-56. (In Chinese).
[9] S.C. Ma, Z.Y. Wang and L.M. Zhang: Digital well-being——An optimum state of balanced use of digital technology, Psychological Research, Vol. 18 (2025) No. 3, p.203-212. (In Chinese).
[10] M.M.P. Vanden Abeele: Digital wellbeing as a dynamic construct, Communication Theory, Vol. 31 (2021) No. 4, p.932-955.
[11] L.H. Zhang: Four-dimensional synergy: practical pathways for cultivating digital well-being among teenagers, Journal of Baicheng Normal University, Vol. 40 (2026) No. 1, p.33-40. (In Chinese).
[12] J. Li and X.Q. You: Digital well-being of young college students: basic connotation, real-world challenges and practical dimensions, Journal of Northwestern Polytechnical University (Social Science Edition), 1-8 [2026-03-15]. https://link.cnki.net/urlid/61.1352.C.20250613.1600.002. (In Chinese).