Subproject #3

Digital Wellbeing

Digital Wellbeing (SubProject#3) (HBKU College of Science and Engineering (CSE), Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), Sidra Medicine (S IDRA), Bournemouth University (BU)), we investigate the notion of digital wellbeing and the role of culture and digital design in both triggering concerns related to it and mediating solutions. We will also propose socio-technical solutions to enhance digital well-being using social expectations setting and psychological inoculation theory.

In this project, we will look at the meaning of healthy online interaction, including screen time, social interaction, peer expectations and norms, and what interventions can keep technology exposure at healthy levels. Digital wellbeing shall be inclusive of the varying characteristics in culture and personality. Hence, its meaning and tools can differ. Our approach will concern the case of Qatari society as a case study.

Objectives

To identify the concept of digital wellbeing and healthy digital usage within the Arab socio-cultural context. We will also identify the role of social media designs in triggering issues and facilitating digital wellbeing solutions.
To research and develop socio-technical intervention methods towards protecting against digital welling threats that are resulted from social and peer pressure within Arab culture, taking social media as an example.
To utilize principles from the Inoculation Theory to devise effective and economical solutions for increasing balance in using technology.

Meet Digital Wellbeing Team members...

RAIAN ALI

Director, Lead Principal Investigator:
Digital Wellbeing

JOHN McALANEY

Principal Investigator

DENA AL THANI

Principal Investigator

MOHAMED IHEB BOUGMIZA

Principal Investigator

SANAA ALHARAHSHEH

Principle Investigator

MOHAMMAD NAISEH

Collaborator

AREEJ BABIKER

Postdoctoral Researcher

AMAL AWADALLA

PhD Reasercher

OSAMA MOUSA

PhD Researcher

SHAIMA MOQBEL

PhD Researcher

SAMEHA ALSHAKHSI

PhD Researcher

FATIMA SHABAN ALI

ASMA AL FADL

Publications

Aziz, Maryam; Chemnad, Khansa; Al-Harahsheh, Sanaa; Abdelmoneium, Azza O; Bagdady, Ahmed; Hassan, Diana Alsayed; Ali, Raian

The influence of adolescents essential and non-essential use of technology and Internet addiction on their physical and mental fatigues Journal Article

In: Scientific Reports, vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 1745, 2024.

BibTeX

Aziz, Maryam; Chemnad, Khansa; Al-Harahsheh, Sanaa; Abdelmoneium, Azza O; Baghdady, Ahmed; Ali, Raian

Depression, stress, and anxiety versus internet addiction in early and middle adolescent groups: the mediating roles of family and school environments Journal Article

In: BMC psychology, vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 184, 2024.

BibTeX

Babiker, Areej; Almourad, Mohamed Basel; Panourgia, Constantina; Alshakhsi, Sameha; Montag, Christian; Ali, Raian

Need for Affect, Problematic Social Media Use and the Mediating Role of Fear of Missing Out in European and Arab Samples Journal Article

In: Psychology Research and Behavior Management, pp. 5025–5039, 2023.

BibTeX

Chemnad, Khansa; Aziz, Maryam; Abdelmoneium, Azza O; Al-Harahsheh, Sanaa; Baghdady, Ahmed; Motawaa, Fatima Y Al; Hassan, Diana Alsayed; Ali, Raian

Adolescents’ Internet addiction: Does it all begin with their environment? Journal Article

In: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, vol. 17, no. 1, pp. 87, 2023.

BibTeX

Alshakhsi, Sameha; Babiker, Areej; Montag, Christian; Ali, Raian

On the association between personality, fear of missing out (FoMO) and problematic social media use tendencies in European and Arabian samples Journal Article

In: Acta psychologica, vol. 240, pp. 104026, 2023.

BibTeX

Ali, Amal Awadalla; Babiker, Areej; Erbad, Aiman; Ali, Raian

Intentions Matter: The Role of Purpose in Excessive Social Media Usage and Smartphone Addiction Proceedings Article

In: 2023 10th International Conference on Behavioural and Social Computing (BESC), pp. 1–7, IEEE 2023.

BibTeX

Alam, Aftab; Al-Shakhsi, Sameha; Al-Thani, Dena; Ali, Raian

Do near-bedtime usage of smartphones and problematic internet usage really impact sleep? A study based on objectively recorded usage data Journal Article

In: Behaviour & Information Technology, pp. 1–16, 2023.

BibTeX