Digital Selfhood and Emotional Regulation in Adolescence: A Cyber-Psychological Study of Online Identity and Emotional Well-Being

Adolescent identity development and emotional functioning have been altered by the growing prominence of digital surroundings. The relationship between digital selfhood, online identity expression, emotional regulation, and emotional well-being among teenagers is investigated experimentally in this study. Purposive sampling was used to choose a sample of 150–170 teenagers between the ages of 13 and 18 for a quantitative, cross-sectional study design. Standardized self-report measures measuring online identity building, emotional management techniques, and emotional well-being were used to gather data. The data was analyzed using multiple regression analysis, descriptive statistics, and Pearson's correlation. The findings showed a strong correlation between emotional control techniques and aspects of digital selfhood. While coherent online self-presentation was positively correlated with adaptive emotional regulation and improved well-being, adolescents who displayed fragmented or validation-dependent online identities reported higher levels of emotional dysregulation and lower emotional well-being. Digital selfhood and emotional outcomes were found to be partially mediated by emotional control, which was revealed to be a strong predictor of emotional well-being. The results highlight emotional regulation as a crucial psychological mechanism connecting digital selfhood to emotional well-being and offer empirical support for the importance of online identity processes in teenage emotional adjustment. In order to encourage healthier online involvement among teenagers, the study emphasizes the necessity of evidence-based interventions that concentrate on digital identity awareness and emotional regulation skills.