The search for happiness is one of mankind’s oldest concerns. Although there is no magic formula, science has allowed us to learn more about well-being, such as that the feeling of well-being is closely related to our behavior. In this sense, and knowing that many of our activities are linked to the use of the Internet, we ask ourselveshow can our behavior on the Internet help us to be healthier and happier?
We found that a recent study analyzed the relationship between the type of Internet use and our health. This study focused on two types of use: constructive use (work or learning activities) and health-related use (applications for health issues). We evaluated whether the use of the Internet for health is linked to people’s sense of well-being and the results confirm that it does help!
One of the first things to consider is, what do we call “subjective well-being” or “sense of well-being“? The feeling of well-being refers to the way we perceive our life and our experiences, and encompasses different aspects such as our quality of sleep, social relationships, our personal growth, but also our feeling of physical health, feeling physically and mentally healthy.
Physical activity can contribute to achieving a balance between subjective well-being and health, and has a beneficial impact on sleep quality (frequency of nighttime awakenings and overall sleep satisfaction). In general, physical activity is related to physical, mental and social development and apps can help you do just that! According to the study, applications that promote movement and physical exercise were the most used on the Internet.
Additionally, the following question was posed: can internet use affect sleep quality? Participants who used the Internet more for work and study reported lower levels of sleep satisfaction, suggesting that excessive use of screens and the Internet can significantly alter sleep habits and negatively influence personal well-being. The Internet can be great, but excessive use can result in poor sleep habits and a reduced sense of well-being.
When used well, online applications can be effective in improving our health and well-being. The programs and applications have a high success rate in areas such as weight control, nutrition, smoking cessation, stress reduction, blood glucose control, reduced alcohol consumption and increased physical activity.
In conclusion, the use of the Internet to improve health can positively affect our well-being. It is important to use the Internet constructively and responsibly to improve our quality of life and achieve our health and wellness goals, always avoiding the excessive use of digital media and screens that could imply health risks such as sleep disorders, fatigue, among others.
Para conocer más, te invitamos a visitar el artículo “Internet Behavior and Satisfaction with Sleep, Health, Quality of Life and Physical Activity Self-Efficacy as Components of Subjective Well-Being: Findings from an Online Survey” (https://www.psycharchives.org/en/item/1e4cf1d5-1d22-40b9-b186-50c762d52ada) y a seguir compartiendo información relevante y ser parte de la prevención.
