Abstract

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) enable unprecedented flexibility and connectivity, yet they also intensify interruptions and expectations of constant availability, contributing to technostress and reduced well-being. The mixed effects of ICT use have prompted academic research and public discourse to examine mindful technology use as a means of supporting self-regulation, intentional behaviour, and well-being in digitally saturated environments. The academic research linking mindfulness and ICT remains fragmented across fields and inconsistent in how key constructs and outcomes are defined. This work-in-progress scoping review maps and organizes the peer-reviewed literature on mindfulness in relation to digital technology use. Using PRISMA-ScR procedures, we searched eleven databases (e.g., Scopus, PsycINFO, JSTOR, ERIC, IEEE Xplore, PubMed, and Google Scholar) and supplemented results through backward reference searching. We included English-language, peer-reviewed journal publications from database inception onward, spanning empirical, review, and conceptual/theory papers; where participant data were reported, studies were limited to adults (≥18 years). The search returned over 130,000 records, with over 5,300 screened at title/abstract and 326 reviewed in full text, resulting in 94 included manuscripts. Preliminary synthesis indicates wide geographic coverage and substantial disciplinary dispersion. Most empirical studies are cross-sectional and rely heavily on student samples, limiting causal inference and generalizability. Across studies, mindfulness most consistently aligns with lower problematic technology use and reduced ICT-related strain, and it is often modelled as a mediator or moderator linking technology use to psychological vulnerabilities and well-being. Relatively few studies address mindfulness in relation to AI-enabled technologies, highlighting a timely research opportunity. By clarifying constructs, measures, outcomes, and gaps, this review aims to support more cumulative theorizing and evidence-informed design and policy for sustainable digital well-being.

Download

Share

COinS