Self-Concept in the Digital Era: Exploring Its Interplay with Internet Use Patterns, Mental Health, and Physical Well-Being

Submission Deadline: 31 December 2025 View: 423 Submit to Special Issue

Guest Editors

Prof. I-Hua, Chen

Email: aholechen@gmail.com

Affiliation: Chinese Academy of Education Big Data, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, 273165, China

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Research Interests: Mental health; Psychometrics; Teachers' well-being; Self-concept; Problematic Internet Use (PIU); Physical health

Prof. Ming Shinn, Lee

Email: health100@gmail.com

Affiliation: Department of Education & Human Potentials Development, National Dong Hwa University, Hualien, 974301, Taiwan

Homepage:

Research Interests: Health and safety Behavior change; Q methodology survey; Cyber Bullying prevention

Summary

The digital era has transformed how individuals perceive themselves and interact with the world, with internet use patterns increasingly influencing both mental and physical health. This special issue explores the multifaceted role of self-conceptencompassing mattering, self-esteem, self-efficacy, and related constructsin shaping well-being in the context of digital behaviors. While mattering (the sense of being significant and valued) remains a key focus, we expand the scope to include other self-concept dimensions and their interplay with Problematic Internet Use (PIU), mental health outcomes, and physical health indicators, such as sleep quality.

The aim is to investigate how self-concept influences and is influenced by digital engagement, including its potential as a protective or risk factor in the face of PIU. We seek to highlight mechanisms linking self-concept to psychological well-being and physical health, with a particular emphasis on sleep as a critical yet underexplored outcome. Suggested themes include: (1) Self-concept as a mediator/moderator in digital behavior and health outcomes; (2) The bidirectional relationship between PIU and self-concept; (3) Sleep disturbances linked to internet use and self-perception; (4) Interventions leveraging self-concept to promote healthier digital habits; and (5) Cross-cultural perspectives on self-concept in the digital age.

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Published Papers