Title: The influence of digital literacy training on self-efficacy, digital literacy skills, and internet outcomes

Authors: Heena Choudhary; Nidhi Bansal

Addresses: Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Malaviya National Institute of Technology Jaipur, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302017, India ' Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Malaviya National Institute of Technology Jaipur, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302017, India

Abstract: Digital literacy training (DLT) is paramount in equipping individuals with knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the online landscape. While existing literature has extensively explored the roles of self-efficacy (SE) and digital literacy skills (DLS) in influencing digital engagements and, subsequently, internet outcome (IO) achievement, there is a notable gap in understanding how DLT directly affects IO achievement. This study addresses this gap by comprehensively examining the relationship between DLT and IO, explicitly focusing on the parallel mediating mechanisms of SE and DLS. Drawing from social cognitive theory (SCT) and the digital inclusion perspective, a conceptual framework was developed and tested involving 450 participants. Results reveal that DLT not only directly impacts IO but also exerts an indirect influence through the mediating effects of SE and DLS. Individuals undergoing DLT enhance their SE and DLS and experience positive IO achievement. These findings contribute to designing effective training programs and policies, offering actionable knowledge to bridge the digital divide and cultivate a digitally empowered society.

Keywords: digital divide; digital skills; digital literacy; self-efficacy; SE; internet use; internet outcomes; training; marginalised; rural.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLT.2026.154936

International Journal of Learning Technology, 2026 Vol.21 No.2, pp.166 - 185

Received: 02 Dec 2023
Accepted: 18 Mar 2024
Published online: 20 Jul 2026 *

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