Stakeholder perspectives on digital wellbeing in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional survey
Abstract Background In Saudi Arabia, the rapid growth of digital media and smartphone use has raised concerns about problematic usage and its impacts on well-being, especially among young people. Research on stakeholder perspectives regarding intervention strategies remains limited. Objective This s...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23674-4 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849331620649107456 |
|---|---|
| author | Saud Abdulaziz Alomairah Michelle Colder Carras Dahlia Aljuboori Juliann Saquib Nazmus Saquib Mayank Date Kyeongwon Kim Faisal Aldayel Michelle R. Kaufman Laura K. Clary Vincent G. van der Rijst Anouk Tuijnman Antonius J. van Rooij Nahlah Alsogaih Faisal Z. Al-Zabidi Fahad S. Albeyahi Johannes Thrul |
| author_facet | Saud Abdulaziz Alomairah Michelle Colder Carras Dahlia Aljuboori Juliann Saquib Nazmus Saquib Mayank Date Kyeongwon Kim Faisal Aldayel Michelle R. Kaufman Laura K. Clary Vincent G. van der Rijst Anouk Tuijnman Antonius J. van Rooij Nahlah Alsogaih Faisal Z. Al-Zabidi Fahad S. Albeyahi Johannes Thrul |
| author_sort | Saud Abdulaziz Alomairah |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background In Saudi Arabia, the rapid growth of digital media and smartphone use has raised concerns about problematic usage and its impacts on well-being, especially among young people. Research on stakeholder perspectives regarding intervention strategies remains limited. Objective This study aimed to gather insights from societal stakeholders, including youth, parents, policymakers, industry leaders, clinicians, educators, and digital media users, to inform culturally tailored interventions for digital well-being in Saudi Arabia. Methods A purposeful non-random sample of 92 participants representing different stakeholder groups was recruited to complete an online survey, answering questions about their experiences and perspectives on digital media use. Primary stakeholder group was assigned based on participant self-selection. We analyzed distributions of categorical variables related to media use time, reasons for use, impacts, self-regulation strategies, and perceived effectiveness of interventions (e.g., education programs, media campaigns, Internet use restrictions). Results Of the participants, 63.0% were male, and 46.7% were under 25 years old. Regular digital media users, individuals with problematic Internet use, and clinicians/health professionals comprised 26.1%, 18.5%, and 18.5% of respondents, respectively. Extensive screen time was common, with 47.8% reporting four or more hours of recreational digital use on weekdays and 56.6% on weekends. Participants reported both positive impacts (e.g., social connections, school/work performance) and negative impacts (e.g., sleep disruption, reduced physical activity) of digital media use. Efforts to regulate media use were reported by 72.8%, with strategies like deleting apps or digital detoxes. At least 50.0% of participants endorsed all proposed intervention approaches as likely effective for improving digital well-being, with educational programs for parents, school programs, and regulatory apps receiving over 75.0% support. Children and adolescents were seen as key target groups for these interventions. Conclusions Findings from this diverse stakeholder sample suggest that digital well-being interventions in Saudi Arabia should prioritize youth, focusing on education-based approaches and apps for media regulation. Incorporating these perspectives can lead to culturally relevant interventions addressing the unique challenges of digital media use in Saudi Arabia. The generalizability of the findings may be limited due to sample size and potential overrepresentation of certain stakeholder groups. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-eadfa86c782a4c8fb72c7d5dac86c617 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-eadfa86c782a4c8fb72c7d5dac86c6172025-08-20T03:46:28ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-07-0125111210.1186/s12889-025-23674-4Stakeholder perspectives on digital wellbeing in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional surveySaud Abdulaziz Alomairah0Michelle Colder Carras1Dahlia Aljuboori2Juliann Saquib3Nazmus Saquib4Mayank Date5Kyeongwon Kim6Faisal Aldayel7Michelle R. Kaufman8Laura K. Clary9Vincent G. van der Rijst10Anouk Tuijnman11Antonius J. van Rooij12Nahlah Alsogaih13Faisal Z. Al-Zabidi14Fahad S. Albeyahi15Johannes Thrul16Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthDepartment of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthDepartment of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthSulaiman Alrajhi UniversitySulaiman Alrajhi UniversityDepartment of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthDepartment of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthMinistry of HealthDepartment of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthDepartment of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthTrimbos InstituteTrimbos InstituteTrimbos InstituteSulaiman Alrajhi UniversitySulaiman Alrajhi UniversityKing Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra)Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthAbstract Background In Saudi Arabia, the rapid growth of digital media and smartphone use has raised concerns about problematic usage and its impacts on well-being, especially among young people. Research on stakeholder perspectives regarding intervention strategies remains limited. Objective This study aimed to gather insights from societal stakeholders, including youth, parents, policymakers, industry leaders, clinicians, educators, and digital media users, to inform culturally tailored interventions for digital well-being in Saudi Arabia. Methods A purposeful non-random sample of 92 participants representing different stakeholder groups was recruited to complete an online survey, answering questions about their experiences and perspectives on digital media use. Primary stakeholder group was assigned based on participant self-selection. We analyzed distributions of categorical variables related to media use time, reasons for use, impacts, self-regulation strategies, and perceived effectiveness of interventions (e.g., education programs, media campaigns, Internet use restrictions). Results Of the participants, 63.0% were male, and 46.7% were under 25 years old. Regular digital media users, individuals with problematic Internet use, and clinicians/health professionals comprised 26.1%, 18.5%, and 18.5% of respondents, respectively. Extensive screen time was common, with 47.8% reporting four or more hours of recreational digital use on weekdays and 56.6% on weekends. Participants reported both positive impacts (e.g., social connections, school/work performance) and negative impacts (e.g., sleep disruption, reduced physical activity) of digital media use. Efforts to regulate media use were reported by 72.8%, with strategies like deleting apps or digital detoxes. At least 50.0% of participants endorsed all proposed intervention approaches as likely effective for improving digital well-being, with educational programs for parents, school programs, and regulatory apps receiving over 75.0% support. Children and adolescents were seen as key target groups for these interventions. Conclusions Findings from this diverse stakeholder sample suggest that digital well-being interventions in Saudi Arabia should prioritize youth, focusing on education-based approaches and apps for media regulation. Incorporating these perspectives can lead to culturally relevant interventions addressing the unique challenges of digital media use in Saudi Arabia. The generalizability of the findings may be limited due to sample size and potential overrepresentation of certain stakeholder groups.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23674-4Digital wellbeingInternetStakeholder engagementHealth promotionSurveyDigital balance |
| spellingShingle | Saud Abdulaziz Alomairah Michelle Colder Carras Dahlia Aljuboori Juliann Saquib Nazmus Saquib Mayank Date Kyeongwon Kim Faisal Aldayel Michelle R. Kaufman Laura K. Clary Vincent G. van der Rijst Anouk Tuijnman Antonius J. van Rooij Nahlah Alsogaih Faisal Z. Al-Zabidi Fahad S. Albeyahi Johannes Thrul Stakeholder perspectives on digital wellbeing in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional survey BMC Public Health Digital wellbeing Internet Stakeholder engagement Health promotion Survey Digital balance |
| title | Stakeholder perspectives on digital wellbeing in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional survey |
| title_full | Stakeholder perspectives on digital wellbeing in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional survey |
| title_fullStr | Stakeholder perspectives on digital wellbeing in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional survey |
| title_full_unstemmed | Stakeholder perspectives on digital wellbeing in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional survey |
| title_short | Stakeholder perspectives on digital wellbeing in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional survey |
| title_sort | stakeholder perspectives on digital wellbeing in saudi arabia a cross sectional survey |
| topic | Digital wellbeing Internet Stakeholder engagement Health promotion Survey Digital balance |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23674-4 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT saudabdulazizalomairah stakeholderperspectivesondigitalwellbeinginsaudiarabiaacrosssectionalsurvey AT michellecoldercarras stakeholderperspectivesondigitalwellbeinginsaudiarabiaacrosssectionalsurvey AT dahliaaljuboori stakeholderperspectivesondigitalwellbeinginsaudiarabiaacrosssectionalsurvey AT juliannsaquib stakeholderperspectivesondigitalwellbeinginsaudiarabiaacrosssectionalsurvey AT nazmussaquib stakeholderperspectivesondigitalwellbeinginsaudiarabiaacrosssectionalsurvey AT mayankdate stakeholderperspectivesondigitalwellbeinginsaudiarabiaacrosssectionalsurvey AT kyeongwonkim stakeholderperspectivesondigitalwellbeinginsaudiarabiaacrosssectionalsurvey AT faisalaldayel stakeholderperspectivesondigitalwellbeinginsaudiarabiaacrosssectionalsurvey AT michellerkaufman stakeholderperspectivesondigitalwellbeinginsaudiarabiaacrosssectionalsurvey AT laurakclary stakeholderperspectivesondigitalwellbeinginsaudiarabiaacrosssectionalsurvey AT vincentgvanderrijst stakeholderperspectivesondigitalwellbeinginsaudiarabiaacrosssectionalsurvey AT anouktuijnman stakeholderperspectivesondigitalwellbeinginsaudiarabiaacrosssectionalsurvey AT antoniusjvanrooij stakeholderperspectivesondigitalwellbeinginsaudiarabiaacrosssectionalsurvey AT nahlahalsogaih stakeholderperspectivesondigitalwellbeinginsaudiarabiaacrosssectionalsurvey AT faisalzalzabidi stakeholderperspectivesondigitalwellbeinginsaudiarabiaacrosssectionalsurvey AT fahadsalbeyahi stakeholderperspectivesondigitalwellbeinginsaudiarabiaacrosssectionalsurvey AT johannesthrul stakeholderperspectivesondigitalwellbeinginsaudiarabiaacrosssectionalsurvey |