THE IMPACT OF DIGITAL DETOX ON EMPLOYEES' WELLBEING WITH THE MODERATING EFFECT OF GENDER: A STUDY OF EMPLOYEES IN SRI LANKA’S DYNAMIC IT INDUSTRY

Abstract

In response to the growing digital dependency and its consequences on employee well-being, this study focuses on the impact of digital detox on employees’ well-being in Sri Lanka’s IT sector, with the moderating effect of gender. The necessity of this study arises from the growing global concerns about the negative impact of excessive digital engagement on employee well-being, particularly in high-pressure industries like IT and Finance. In Sri Lanka, the IT sector has seen significant digital expansion, but this has come with high stress levels, work-life imbalance, and mental health concerns. Existing research in Sri Lanka has primarily focused on digital transformation and productivity, neglecting the role of digital detox in employee well-being. This study, therefore, addresses a critical research gap by examining the effectiveness of digital detox in improving employee well-being within Sri Lanka’s IT industry. The study is anchored in a positivist research philosophy, employing a deductive, quantitative approach, by using a structured questionnaire to the IT professionals (The registered IT companies under SLASSCOM, which is referred to as Sri Lanka Association of Software and Services Companies (SLASSCOM), which is the premier industry chamber for the IT and BPM (Business Process Management) industry in Sri Lanka). The study utilizes statistical techniques such as regression and overall model analysis and the tools are Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0 and Process Macro version 4.3 to assess the influence of digital detox including rule-based and feature-based disconnection on various dimensions of employee well-being, such as psychological, social, workplace, and subjective well-being. A total of 384 valid responses were analyzed and confirmed that digital detox positively impacts employee well-being, indicating that employees who actively engage in digital detox strategies report lower stress levels, improved emotional health, and increased workplace engagement. The statistical analysis establishes that detox plays a major role in influencing employee well-being, with significant gender-based differences in the perceived benefits. Hence, this study adds to the growing body of knowledge on digital detox by offering context-specific insights into Sri Lanka’s IT workforce and highlights the necessity for workplace interventions that support structured digital detox programs. Furthermore, Future research should explore the long-term effects and industry-wide applications of digital detox programs across different professional sectors to further validate these findings and establish best practices for digital well-being.