Self-Transcendence and Nature Connectedness as Predictors of Healthy Digital Engagement
Stella Kurian, Sarbesh Kumar Singh
Universal Journal of Humanities and Multi-Disciplinary Studies September 24, 2026 DOI: 10.63345/ujhmds.v2.i3.304 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional survey Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 412 |
| Population | Adults aged 18 to 45 years |
| Measures | Self-Transcendence Scale, Connectedness to Nature Scale, Healthy Digital Engagement Scale |
| Key findings | Self-transcendence and nature connectedness were each positively associated with healthy digital engagement, explaining an additional 10% and 7% of variance respectively after controlling for age, gender, and daily screen time, with the final model accounting for 30%. Nature connectedness partially mediated the relationship between self-transcendence and healthy digital engagement (indirect effect = 0.18). The authors suggest these dispositions may be useful targets for digital well-being interventions. |
Abstract
Digital technologies are now part of daily life, and research has shifted from simply measuring how much people use screens to asking how they use them. This study examined whether self-transcendence and nature connectedness predict healthy digital engagement, defined as intentional, self-regulated, and balanced use of digital devices. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 412 adults aged 18 to 45 years. Participants completed the Self-Transcendence Scale, the Connectedness to Nature Scale, and a Healthy Digital Engagement Scale, and reported their daily screen time. Self-transcendence (r = .38, p < .001) and nature connectedness (r = .43, p < .001) were both positively correlated with healthy digital engagement. Hierarchical regression showed that, after controlling for age, gender, and daily screen time, self-transcendence explained an additional 10% of variance in healthy digital engagement, and nature connectedness explained a further 7%. The final model accounted for 30% of the variance. Mediation analysis showed that nature connectedness partially mediated the relationship between self-transcendence and healthy digital engagement (indirect effect = 0.18, 95% CI [0.11, 0.26]). The findings suggest that people who orient beyond the self and feel connected to the natural world tend to use technology more intentionally. These dispositions may be useful targets for digital well-being interventions.