Impact of Religious Beliefs on Psychological Well-Being and Social Functioning Among Indian Generation Z in Digitally Saturated Environments

Impact of Religious Beliefs on Psychological Well-Being and Social Functioning Among Indian Generation Z in Digitally Saturated Environments | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Impact of Religious Beliefs on Psychological Well-Being and Social Functioning Among Indian Generation Z in Digitally Saturated Environments Kerinth Desai This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9186005/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Generation Z is increasingly exposed to digitally saturated environments characterized by continuous online engagement, social comparison, and heightened psychological demands. Within the Indian socio-cultural context, religious belief systems traditionally function as psychosocial resources that foster emotional regulation, social integration, and identity development. However, empirical research examining the role of religious engagement among Indian Generation Z remains limited. The present study examined the impact of religious beliefs on psychological well-being and social functioning among Generation Z individuals (N = 120) aged 15–30 years in Ahmedabad, India. A quantitative cross-sectional design was employed using purposive sampling. Participants were categorized into religiously engaged (n = 60) and non-engaged groups (n = 60). Standardized measures of psychological well-being and social skills were administered. Data were analyzed using independent samples t -tests, Mann–Whitney U tests, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression analysis. Results indicated that religiously engaged participants demonstrated significantly higher psychological well-being, t (95.46) = 3.25, p = .002, and social skills, U = 803, p < .001. A significant positive correlation was found between psychological well-being and social functioning, r = .334, p < .001. Regression analysis revealed that religious engagement and gender significantly predicted psychological well-being, R ² = .132, F (3, 116) = 5.89, p = .001. The findings suggest that religious beliefs function as adaptive psychosocial resources that enhance emotional resilience, social competence, and psychological well-being among Generation Z in digitally saturated environments. Psychology Generation Z religious beliefs psychological well-being social functioning digital exposure Introduction Mental health concerns among young populations have increased significantly in recent years, with rising rates of anxiety, depression, and emotional distress. Rapid technological advancement has contributed to environments characterized by continuous digital engagement, which may influence attention, emotional regulation, and interpersonal relationships. Generation Z represents the first cohort to grow up fully immersed in digital environments. Research indicates that increased screen time and online interaction are associated with lower psychological well-being and higher levels of emotional distress (Twenge & Campbell, 2018). These environments often promote social comparison, reduced face-to-face interaction, and cognitive overload. Religious belief systems, within the Indian socio-cultural context, serve as important psychosocial resources. Religion provides frameworks for meaning-making, coping, emotional regulation, and social belonging. Previous research has demonstrated that religiosity is positively associated with psychological well-being, resilience, and life satisfaction (Koenig, 2012). Despite this, limited empirical research has examined the interaction between religious engagement and psychological well-being among Indian Generation Z populations in digitally saturated environments. Methods Research Design The present study employed a quantitative, cross-sectional research design with comparative and correlational components. Participants The sample consisted of 120 Generation Z individuals (aged 15–30 years) from Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Participants were divided into: Religious engagement group ( n = 60) Non-engagement group ( n = 60) Participants were selected using purposive sampling. Measures Psychological Well-Being Scale Developed by Sisodia and Chaudhary (2012), this scale measures satisfaction, sociability, mental health, and interpersonal relations (α = .87). Social Skill Test (SST) Developed by Kaur, this test measures communication, empathy, cooperation, and social adjustment (α = .82). Procedure Participants were recruited based on inclusion criteria. Informed consent was obtained prior to data collection. Data were collected in a controlled setting using standardized instructions. Confidentiality and anonymity were maintained. Data Analysis Statistical analyses were conducted using: Shapiro–Wilk test for normality Independent samples t -test Mann–Whitney U test Pearson correlation Multiple regression analysis Results Group Differences in Social Skills A Mann–Whitney U test indicated a significant difference in social skills between groups, U = 803, p < .001. Group Differences in Psychological Well-Being An independent samples t -test showed that religiously engaged participants had significantly higher psychological well-being, t (95.46) = 3.25, p = .002. Correlation Analysis A significant positive correlation was found between psychological well-being and social skills, r = .334, p < .001. Regression Analysis Multiple regression analysis revealed that religious engagement and gender significantly predicted psychological well-being, R ² = .132, F (3, 116) = 5.89, p = .001. Discussion The findings indicate that religious engagement is associated with higher psychological well-being and social functioning among Generation Z individuals. Religious participation may provide structured social support, emotional regulation mechanisms, and a sense of meaning, which contribute to resilience in digitally saturated environments. These results are consistent with previous research demonstrating positive associations between religiosity and mental health outcomes (Koenig, 2012). Religious communities may serve as protective environments that mitigate the negative psychological effects of excessive digital exposure. Conclusion Religious belief systems function as significant psychosocial resources for Generation Z. Engagement in religious practices is associated with improved emotional stability, social competence, and psychological well-being. Limitations The study is limited by its cross-sectional design, regional sample, and reliance on self-report measures. Implications The findings suggest that integrating culturally relevant and community-based frameworks, such as religious engagement, may enhance mental health interventions for young populations. Declarations Ethics Approval Statement: This study was conducted in accordance with ethical standards and was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee of St. Xavier’s College, Ahmedabad, India. All procedures involving human participants were performed in accordance with institutional and national ethical guidelines. Participant Consent Statement: Informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to their participation in the study. Participants were informed about the purpose of the research, and their participation was voluntary. For participants under the age of 18, consent was obtained from their parent or legal guardian. Ethics Statement The study was conducted in accordance with ethical standards for research involving human participants. Informed consent was obtained from all participants. Confidentiality and anonymity were maintained. Author Contributions The author was responsible for all aspects of the study, including design, data collection, analysis, and manuscript preparation. Funding No funding was received for this study. Conflict of Interest The author declares no conflict of interest. Data Availability Statement The datasets generated during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. References Diener, E., Oishi, S., & Lucas, R. E. (2003). Personality, culture, and subjective well-being. Annual Review of Psychology, 54 , 403–425. Hackney, C. H., & Sanders, G. S. (2003). Religiosity and mental health. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 42 (1), 43–55. Koenig, H. G. (2012). Religion, spirituality, and health. ISRN Psychiatry , 2012, 1–33. Putnam, R. D., & Campbell, D. E. (2010). American grace . Simon & Schuster. Ryff, C. D. (1989). Happiness is everything, or is it? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57 (6), 1069–1081. Twenge, J. M., & Campbell, W. K. (2018). Associations between screen time and well-being. Preventive Medicine Reports, 12 , 271–283. Additional Declarations The authors declare no competing interests. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-9186005","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":609878167,"identity":"b75fc182-e09a-4d29-a481-2459fa559c7a","order_by":0,"name":"Kerinth Desai","email":"data:image/png;base64,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","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0005-5501-4711","institution":"Seventh Day Adventist Ars and Science College","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Kerinth","middleName":"","lastName":"Desai","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-03-21 13:22:39","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":{"humanSubjects":true,"vertebrateSubjects":false,"conflictsOfInterestStatement":false,"humanSubjectEthicalGuidelines":true,"humanSubjectConsent":true,"humanSubjectClinicalTrial":false,"humanSubjectCaseReport":false,"vertebrateSubjectEthicalGuidelines":false},"doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9186005/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9186005/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":105277523,"identity":"05d34dab-8327-409c-8962-aade2fac140c","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-03-24 09:44:44","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":667522,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9186005/v1/62d26555-8468-40e6-9105-c3184c81f24e.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"The authors declare no competing interests.","formattedTitle":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImpact of Religious Beliefs on Psychological Well-Being and Social Functioning Among Indian Generation Z in Digitally Saturated Environments\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","fulltext":[{"header":"Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003eMental health concerns among young populations have increased significantly in recent years, with rising rates of anxiety, depression, and emotional distress. Rapid technological advancement has contributed to environments characterized by continuous digital engagement, which may influence attention, emotional regulation, and interpersonal relationships.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGeneration Z represents the first cohort to grow up fully immersed in digital environments. Research indicates that increased screen time and online interaction are associated with lower psychological well-being and higher levels of emotional distress (Twenge \u0026amp; Campbell, 2018). These environments often promote social comparison, reduced face-to-face interaction, and cognitive overload.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReligious belief systems, within the Indian socio-cultural context, serve as important psychosocial resources. Religion provides frameworks for meaning-making, coping, emotional regulation, and social belonging. Previous research has demonstrated that religiosity is positively associated with psychological well-being, resilience, and life satisfaction (Koenig, 2012).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDespite this, limited empirical research has examined the interaction between religious engagement and psychological well-being among Indian Generation Z populations in digitally saturated environments.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Methods","content":"\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eResearch Design\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe present study employed a quantitative, cross-sectional research design with comparative and correlational components.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eParticipants\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe sample consisted of 120 Generation Z individuals (aged 15\u0026ndash;30 years) from Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Participants were divided into:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eReligious engagement group (\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e = 60)\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eNon-engagement group (\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e = 60)\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eParticipants were selected using purposive sampling.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMeasures\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePsychological Well-Being Scale\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e Developed by Sisodia and Chaudhary (2012), this scale measures satisfaction, sociability, mental health, and interpersonal relations (\u0026alpha; = .87).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSocial Skill Test (SST)\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e Developed by Kaur, this test measures communication, empathy, cooperation, and social adjustment (\u0026alpha; = .82).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProcedure\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eParticipants were recruited based on inclusion criteria. Informed consent was obtained prior to data collection. Data were collected in a controlled setting using standardized instructions. Confidentiality and anonymity were maintained.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eData Analysis\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStatistical analyses were conducted using:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eShapiro\u0026ndash;Wilk test for normality\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eIndependent samples \u003cem\u003et\u003c/em\u003e-test\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eMann\u0026ndash;Whitney \u003cem\u003eU\u003c/em\u003e test\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ePearson correlation\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eMultiple regression analysis\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e"},{"header":"Results","content":"\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGroup Differences in Social Skills\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA Mann\u0026ndash;Whitney \u003cem\u003eU\u003c/em\u003e test indicated a significant difference in social skills between groups, \u003cem\u003eU\u003c/em\u003e = 803, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e \u0026lt; .001.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGroup Differences in Psychological Well-Being\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn independent samples \u003cem\u003et\u003c/em\u003e-test showed that religiously engaged participants had significantly higher psychological well-being, \u003cem\u003et\u003c/em\u003e(95.46) = 3.25, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e = .002.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCorrelation Analysis\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA significant positive correlation was found between psychological well-being and social skills, \u003cem\u003er\u003c/em\u003e = .334, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e \u0026lt; .001.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRegression Analysis\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMultiple regression analysis revealed that religious engagement and gender significantly predicted psychological well-being, \u003cem\u003eR\u003c/em\u003e\u0026sup2; = .132, \u003cem\u003eF\u003c/em\u003e(3, 116) = 5.89, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e = .001.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe findings indicate that religious engagement is associated with higher psychological well-being and social functioning among Generation Z individuals. Religious participation may provide structured social support, emotional regulation mechanisms, and a sense of meaning, which contribute to resilience in digitally saturated environments.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese results are consistent with previous research demonstrating positive associations between religiosity and mental health outcomes (Koenig, 2012). Religious communities may serve as protective environments that mitigate the negative psychological effects of excessive digital exposure.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Conclusion","content":"\u003cp\u003eReligious belief systems function as significant psychosocial resources for Generation Z. Engagement in religious practices is associated with improved emotional stability, social competence, and psychological well-being.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLimitations\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe study is limited by its cross-sectional design, regional sample, and reliance on self-report measures.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImplications\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe findings suggest that integrating culturally relevant and community-based frameworks, such as religious engagement, may enhance mental health interventions for young populations.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003ch5\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eEthics Approval Statement: This study was conducted in accordance with ethical standards and was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee of St. Xavier\u0026rsquo;s College, Ahmedabad, India. All procedures involving human participants were performed in accordance with institutional and national ethical guidelines.\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eParticipant Consent Statement: Informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to their participation in the study. Participants were informed about the purpose of the research, and their participation was voluntary. For participants under the age of 18, consent was obtained from their parent or legal guardian.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/h5\u003e\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEthics Statement\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe study was conducted in accordance with ethical standards for research involving human participants. Informed consent was obtained from all participants. Confidentiality and anonymity were maintained.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor Contributions\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe author was responsible for all aspects of the study, including design, data collection, analysis, and manuscript preparation.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFunding\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo funding was received for this study.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConflict of Interest\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe author declares no conflict of interest.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eData Availability Statement\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe datasets generated during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eDiener, E., Oishi, S., \u0026amp; Lucas, R. E. (2003). Personality, culture, and subjective well-being. \u003cem\u003eAnnual Review of Psychology, 54\u003c/em\u003e, 403\u0026ndash;425.\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eHackney, C. H., \u0026amp; Sanders, G. S. (2003). Religiosity and mental health. \u003cem\u003eJournal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 42\u003c/em\u003e(1), 43\u0026ndash;55.\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eKoenig, H. G. (2012). Religion, spirituality, and health. \u003cem\u003eISRN Psychiatry\u003c/em\u003e, 2012, 1\u0026ndash;33.\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ePutnam, R. D., \u0026amp; Campbell, D. E. (2010). \u003cem\u003eAmerican grace\u003c/em\u003e. Simon \u0026amp; Schuster.\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eRyff, C. D. (1989). Happiness is everything, or is it? \u003cem\u003eJournal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57\u003c/em\u003e(6), 1069\u0026ndash;1081.\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eTwenge, J. M., \u0026amp; Campbell, W. K. (2018). Associations between screen time and well-being. \u003cem\u003ePreventive Medicine Reports, 12\u003c/em\u003e, 271\u0026ndash;283.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":true,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"Seventh Day Adventist Arts and Science College ","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Generation Z, religious beliefs, psychological well-being, social functioning, digital exposure","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9186005/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9186005/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eGeneration Z is increasingly exposed to digitally saturated environments characterized by continuous online engagement, social comparison, and heightened psychological demands. Within the Indian socio-cultural context, religious belief systems traditionally function as psychosocial resources that foster emotional regulation, social integration, and identity development. However, empirical research examining the role of religious engagement among Indian Generation Z remains limited.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe present study examined the impact of religious beliefs on psychological well-being and social functioning among Generation Z individuals (N = 120) aged 15–30 years in Ahmedabad, India. A quantitative cross-sectional design was employed using purposive sampling. Participants were categorized into religiously engaged (n = 60) and non-engaged groups (n = 60). Standardized measures of psychological well-being and social skills were administered.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eData were analyzed using independent samples \u003cem\u003et\u003c/em\u003e-tests, Mann–Whitney \u003cem\u003eU\u003c/em\u003e tests, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression analysis. Results indicated that religiously engaged participants demonstrated significantly higher psychological well-being, \u003cem\u003et\u003c/em\u003e(95.46) = 3.25, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e = .002, and social skills, \u003cem\u003eU\u003c/em\u003e = 803, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e \u0026lt; .001. A significant positive correlation was found between psychological well-being and social functioning, \u003cem\u003er\u003c/em\u003e = .334, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e \u0026lt; .001. Regression analysis revealed that religious engagement and gender significantly predicted psychological well-being, \u003cem\u003eR\u003c/em\u003e² = .132, \u003cem\u003eF\u003c/em\u003e(3, 116) = 5.89, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e = .001.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe findings suggest that religious beliefs function as adaptive psychosocial resources that enhance emotional resilience, social competence, and psychological well-being among Generation Z in digitally saturated environments.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Impact of Religious Beliefs on Psychological Well-Being and Social Functioning Among Indian Generation Z in Digitally Saturated Environments","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2026-03-24 09:43:28","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9186005/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"3d0c86c5-95b7-46f6-a705-b860624bdc73","owner":[],"postedDate":"March 24th, 2026","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[{"id":64899935,"name":"Psychology"}],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-03-24T09:43:28+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2026-03-24 09:43:28","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-9186005","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-9186005","identity":"rs-9186005","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}