Digital well-being and responsible disconnection policy

Editorial commitment
The Journal of Studies and Research in Psychology and Education, published by the Universidade da Coruña, assumes an explicit commitment to digital well-being, psychosocial health, and the sustainability of academic work, in line with the current regulatory framework, international best publishing practices and the values of the public university.
This commitment is aligned with current regulations, international editorial best practices, and the values of the public university system.
Within this framework, the journal adopts organizational criteria aimed at promoting responsible academic communication, avoiding dynamics that foster hyperconnectivity, permanent availability, or unnecessary time pressure on authors, reviewers, and the editorial team.

1. Regulatory Framework
1.1 Right to Digital Disconnection
The right to digital disconnection is recognized in the Spanish legal system, particularly in Article 88 of Organic Law 3/2018 on Personal Data Protection and Guarantee of Digital Rights (LOPDGDD).
This right ensures respect for rest periods, work–life balance, and protection against risks derived from the intensive use of digital technologies.
Although scientific editorial activity does not imply a direct employment relationship with authors and reviewers, it does structure digitally mediated academic work practices; therefore, it is appropriate to adopt measures that prevent environments incompatible with these principles.

1.2 Application to the Academic Ecosystem
University editorial activity is primarily carried out in digital environments (editorial management platforms, email, asynchronous review processes, and international collaboration), which may encourage situations of hyperconnectivity.
This context reproduces widely identified psychosocial risks, such as the blurring of boundaries between personal and professional time or pressure for constant availability.

1.3 Jurisprudential Considerations
Recent case law has reinforced a preventive interpretation of the right to digital disconnection, indicating that the systematic sending of communications outside working hours may infringe this right, even without requiring an immediate response.
This approach highlights the responsibility of organizations—including academic institutions—to avoid practices that normalize permanent availability.

2. Digital Well-being and Prevention of Psychosocial Risks
Digital disconnection constitutes a preventive measure against risks such as technostress, mental overload, or professional burnout.
From this perspective, responsible management of editorial communication times and channels contributes to:
• improving the quality of scientific work,
• protecting the health of those involved,
• and fostering sustainable academic practices in the long term.

3. Alignment with University Best Practices
Various public universities have incorporated formal digital disconnection policies applicable to their teaching and research staff.
Among the most relevant principles, transferable to the editorial context, are:
• avoiding unnecessary communications outside reasonable hours,
• not equating academic urgency with digital immediacy,
• promoting organizational cultures that respect rest periods.
The adoption of these criteria places the journal in line with emerging standards in the university system.

4. Editorial Principles
In line with the above, the journal establishes the following principles:
• Editorial deadlines will be set according to reasonable and proportionate criteria, avoiding unjustified urgency.
• Editorial communications will preferably take place on working days (Monday to Friday), within regular working hours.
• The sending of communications outside these periods will not, under any circumstances, imply an expectation of an immediate response.
• Authors and reviewers will not be penalized for not responding during weekends, public holidays, or vacation periods.
• The journal promotes an academic culture based on rigor, quality, and respect for personal time.

Final Statement
Scientific excellence is incompatible with sustained hyperconnectivity.
Promoting digital well-being does not limit academic activity; it makes it more ethical, sustainable, and of higher quality.
The Journal of Studies and Research in Psychology and Education understands that caring for the people who produce and evaluate scientific knowledge is an essential part of editorial responsibility.

On the occasion of International Workers' Day, the journal reaffirms this commitment.