Digital Capital and Happiness: Exploring the Moderating Role of Country Affluence

• In Event: 20220 - Section on Communication, Information Technology, and Media Sociology Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Section on Communication, Information Technology, and Media Sociology Roundtable III: Digital Infrastructure I

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between digital capital and happiness across 21 European countries, with a focus on understanding how this relationship varies according to national wealth. Digital capital operationalized as a composite index comprising digital access, use, and skills, was analyzed in relation to self-reported happiness. The findings reveal significant disparities in digital capital across countries, with wealthier nations such as Norway and the Netherlands exhibiting higher levels while less affluent nations like North Macedonia and Portugal report substantially lower levels.
Consistent with our hypothesis, digital capital was found to have a significant positive effect on happiness, even after controlling for income, education, age, and gender. However, the strength of this relationship varied considerably between countries. The association was strongest in poorer countries, such as Bulgaria and Hungary, and weaker or even negative in wealthier countries, such as Switzerland and the Netherlands. Further analysis revealed that national wealth moderates the digital capital-happiness link, with a stronger relationship observed in less affluent nations. These findings suggest that digital technologies play a more transformative role in enhancing happiness where traditional opportunities are limited.
The results underscore the need for tailored policy interventions to address disparities in digital capital. In poorer countries, efforts should focus on improving digital access, literacy, and affordability to maximize the well-being benefits of digital engagement. In wealthier nations, policies might target fostering meaningful digital use and mitigating diminishing returns. This study contributes to the sociological understanding of well-being by highlighting the contextual nature of the digital capital-happiness relationship and emphasizing the importance of addressing global digital inequalities. Future research should further refine measurement tools and explore societal factors that shape these dynamics.

Keywords: digital capital, happiness, GDP per capita, cross-national

Author

• Atefeh Bagherianziarat, Charles University, Prague