Intentional versus passive technology use patterns differentially predict attentional control and psychological well-being

Despite growing concerns about digital technology's impact on mental health, research has produced inconsistent findings, suggesting the relationship may depend more on how technology is used rather than how much. This study introduces and empirically evaluates the concept of "digital balance", defined as purposeful, goal-directed engagement with technology characterized by user agency, self-regulation, and awareness of usage boundaries, rather than passive, habitual consumption driven by external triggers or automatic behaviors. Unlike mere "intentional" use (which could describe any deliberate action to pick up a device), digital balance specifically emphasizes explicit goal-setting for engagement, conscious regulation of duration and timing, and alignment between technology use and personal values or priorities. This construct builds upon but is distinct from prior work on mindful technology use and active versus passive engagement by integrating self-regulatory and goal-alignment components within a unified framework. Using structural equation modeling with data from 842 adults (ages 18-65), we examined relationships between intentional versus passive technology use patterns across four digital domains (social media, entertainment, information seeking, and communication), attentional control, and psychological well-being. Results revealed that intentional technology use was positively associated with attentional control (β = 0.42, p < .001) and psychological well-being (β = 0.37, p < 0.001), while passive use showed negative associations with both constructs (β = -0.39, p < 0.001; β = -0.31, p < 0.001, respectively). Attentional control significantly mediated the relationship between technology use patterns and well-being. Importantly, these relationships remained significant after controlling for overall screen time, suggesting quality of engagement matters more than quantity. These findings advance theoretical understanding of healthy technology engagement and have implications for designing digital wellness interventions focused on intentional use rather than abstinence. This study was not preregistered; findings should therefore be interpreted as hypothesis-generating rather than confirmatory.