Digital Kindness and Mental Health in Afghan Instagram and Facebook Users

This study explored how digital kindness relates to mental well-being, particularly in Afghanistan, focusing on active users of Instagram and Facebook, and including affect balance as a mediator. Using a descriptive-correlational approach, data were gathered from 400 active users of social media in Afghanistan, who were between 18 to 35 years old. Participants were selected purposively, and validated Persian-Dari versions of the Digital Kindness Scale, Mental Health Continuum Short Form (MHC-SF), Positive and Negative Affect Schedule - Short Form (PANAS-SF) were administered. Using data analysis with Pearson Correlation Coefficient, it has been evident that there exists a significant positive relationship between digital kindness and mental well-being at r = .667, p < .01. Likewise, a significant positive relationship between digital kindness and affect balance has been found at r = .581, p < .01. Using Structural Equation Modeling, it has been confirmed that this significant association between digital kindness and mental well-being partially exists through the effect of affect balance, where direct effects exist between digital kindness and mental well-being at β = .503, p < .001, along with indirect effects at β = .164, p < .001. Thus, the findings indicate that digital kindness is a strong correlate of mental well-being in Afghan youth, and this association is partially explained through emotional balance.