Protective factors contributing to adolescents’ multifaceted digital resilience for their wellbeing: A socio-ecological perspective

Swift digital advancements provide teenagers with ample online opportunities but also expose them to potential hazards that impact their wellbeing. The consequences of perceiving online risks vary among individuals, emphasizing the role of digital resilience as a protective mechanism. Digital resilience, rooted in the Digital Resilience Framework encompassing coping strategies, recovery, and learning from online risk experiences, goes beyond individual efforts. Instead, familial and educational factors play significant roles. This study investigates protective factors enhancing digital resilience from a socio-ecological perspective to boost adolescents' wellbeing. Data were collected from 1,882 parent-child pairs and 30 school ICT coordinators in 30 Hong Kong secondary schools between July and September 2022. Student and parent surveys assessed digital resilience, digital literacy, parental monitoring, and parent-child relationships, while the school ICT coordinator survey evaluated school-level digital literacy curriculum. Initially, no significant differences in adolescent wellbeing emerged regarding exposure to online risks. Employing structural equation modeling, this study suggests the protective role of digital resilience in enhancing adolescents' wellbeing. Results revealed that adolescents' digital resilience was positively associated with their digital literacy, positive parent-child relationships, and school-based digital literacy programs, particularly those focused on cyberbullying prevention. However, parental monitoring was only found to be significantly associated with adolescents’ non-productive coping strategies, which were negatively associated with their wellbeing. These findings offer crucial insights for stakeholders such as educators, policymakers, and parents. These insights can empower adolescents to navigate the digital landscape effectively while safeguarding their wellbeing.