Desperate for disconnection? A two-study investigation of the Simpson’s paradox in the association between digital disconnection and digital ill-being

A conundrum of digital disconnection research is that individuals who report digitally disconnecting more often report poorer digital well-being. This article explores whether underlying differences in trait self-control might explain this conundrum. Study 1 (N = 1,315 adults) shows support for a Simpson’s paradox: Within persons, deliberate digital disconnection from the smartphone is linked to reduced smartphone ill-being, but between persons it links to increased smartphone ill-being. Negative between-person associations between trait self-control and both deliberate disconnection and smartphone ill-being suggest self-control as a confounder. Study 2 (N = 2,000 adults) explores this hypothesis further by contrasting more effortful, deliberated disconnection strategies with disengagement strategies reflecting situational goal-alignment. The findings show cognitive control associates positively with the use effortful disconnection strategies, and negatively with using less effortful disengagement strategies. Combined, the studies suggest digital disconnection takes more effort for some people than for others. This has implications for intervention design.