South Asian Journal of Social Studies and Economics

Empirical and theoretical studies suggest that access to Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) goes beyond supporting development objectives and plays a significant role in enhancing subjective well-being. However, the existing literature has largely concentrated on developed economies or specific population groups, leaving limited evidence on how ICTs affect men’s well-being in fragile and low-income settings. This study seeks to fill this gap by examining the relationship between ICT access and subjective well-being among men in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a context characterized by structural constraints, socio-economic vulnerability, and persistent inequalities. Using a representative sample of 6,161 men drawn from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS-Palu 2018), logistic regression models are employed to assess the associations between ICT access and self-reported life satisfaction and happiness. The results indicate that ICT access positively influences men’s subjective well-being, with heterogeneous effects across technologies: computer use consistently improves life satisfaction, while Internet access alone shows weaker and occasionally ambiguous effects. Moreover, health status, social integration, and protection against ethnic discrimination emerge as critical determinants of well-being, suggesting that the impact of ICTs is shaped by broader socio-economic and psychosocial conditions. These findings highlight the importance of policies promoting digital inclusion, computer literacy, and productive ICT use, alongside efforts to strengthen health systems and social cohesion. By providing gender-disaggregated evidence from the Congolese context, this study contributes to the literature on ICTs and subjective well-being and offers policy-relevant insights for improving men’s quality of life through technology.