The Effects of ICTs on Well-being: A Survey and a Theoretical Framework

Fulvio Castellacci and Vegard Tveito
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Vegard Tveito: TIK Centre, University of Oslo

No 20161004, Working Papers on Innovation Studies from Centre for Technology, Innovation and Culture, University of Oslo

Abstract: Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) presently pervade human life. Most individuals make active use of ICTs, both in private and in work life, without proper information and awareness of how these affect their well-being. Research on this topic is still underdeveloped and highly fragmented. This paper presents a survey of extant literature on the relationships between ICTs and well-being, and it develops a new interdisciplinary theoretical framework to analyze the positive effects and potential risks that the pervasive use of ICTs may lead to. Specifically, we point out four distinct channels through which ICTs can shape well-being: they are time-saving, create new activities, facilitate access to information, and act as powerful communication tools. We show how these four channels impact well-being in distinct domains of life. A central point is that the effects of ICTs on well-being are mediated by a set of personal characteristics that are specific to each individual, and in particular psychological functioning, capabilities, and framing conditions (culture and beliefs). Hence, it is the interaction between human beings’ activities in distinct domains of life and their individual personal characteristics that explains why the use of ICTs has stronger positive effects for some individuals and social groups than others.

Pages: 52 pages
Date: 2016-10
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