Cyber Mindfulness: A Multidimensional Mindfulness Model for Digital Well-being

Description

Shahana Parveen PP¹ and Mahesh MM² (Department of Psychology, Sri C Achutha Menon Government College, Thrissur, Kerala¹ and Department of Psychology, Government Brennen College, Thalassery, Kerala²)

The rapid growth of digital technologies has transformed everyday life, also increasing the risk of excessive internet use. It causes several consequences. Many risk factors lead to excessive internet use. To address these, there must be a theoretically grounded intervention framework. This paper proposes Cybermindfulness, a novel multidimensional mindfulness-based model for promoting digital well-being and reducing excessive internet use. This model integrates concepts of Hölzel’s Neurocognitive Model of Mindfulness, Mindfulness-to-Meaning Theory, and the Integrative Translational Model to explain the mechanisms through which mindfulness facilitates self-regulation in digital contexts. This framework highlights how enhanced interoceptive awareness, self-regulation, emotion regulation and cognitive reappraisal can interrupt maladaptive digital engagement and foster healthy use of technology. It conceptualises mindfulness as a multidimensional process that mitigates risk factors associated with excessive internet use while simultaneously enhancing positive psychological outcomes. This offers important implications for the development of preventive interventions to accurately navigate an increasingly complex digital environment.