'Digital Insight and Agency Scale' (DIAS): A Novel Tool to Illuminate Young People's Agency in Mitigating the Negative Impact of Digital Activities on Their Mental Health.

The Digital Insight and Agency Scale (DIAS) was developed and validated as a novel tool to measure young people's online agency and its links to youth mental health.

• Sample consisted of n=383 participants aged 16-25 years (mean=19.0, SD=1.7)
• Sample demographics: 48.8% White, 30.2% South/East Asian, 8.6% Black
• Participants completed the DIAS questionnaire alongside standardised measures of anxiety, depression, and wellbeing
• Factor structure and reliability of the DIAS were examined

Young people reported specific negative impacts of digital engagement on their daily functioning in the previous two weeks, with sleep disturbance being the most commonly reported impact.

• Participants reported negative impacts on daily functioning in the previous 2 weeks
• Less sleep was specifically identified as the most prominent negative impact
• The assessment period was the previous 2 weeks prior to completing the questionnaire

The majority of young people were worried about the negative impact of digital activity on their wellbeing.

• 78% of participants reported being worried about the negative impact of digital activity
• This finding was derived from responses to the DIAS questionnaire
• The sample included young people aged 16-25 years

The majority of young people engaged in one or more risk management actions to mitigate the negative impacts of digital activity.

• 82% of participants engaged in one or more risk management actions
• Three categories of risk management actions were identified: Enhancing Positive Engagement, Coping Actions, and Reducing Engagement
• This finding suggests widespread active agency among young people in managing their digital activity

Higher levels of mental health problems were associated with greater worries about digital activity and increased efforts to manage it.

• Associations were found between mental health measures (anxiety, depression, wellbeing) and DIAS scores
• Higher mental health problems correlated with more worries about negative impacts of digital activity
• Higher mental health problems also correlated with increased risk management actions
• This suggests a relationship between poorer mental health and heightened digital activity concerns and management efforts

The authors concluded that young people's existing digital agency could be leveraged in interventions rather than focusing solely on reducing screen time.

• Most young people in the sample displayed agency in managing their digital activity
• The findings challenge simplified screen-time measures that fail to consider young people's agency and digital activity management skills
• The authors suggest interventions should build on existing risk management behaviours including Enhancing Positive Engagement, Coping Actions, and Reducing Engagement