GAMIFICATION AS A PREDICTOR OF WORK EFFICIENCY AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELLBEING AMONG PAKISTANI DIGITAL NOMADS

Abstract

Background: Digital nomadism has expanded rapidly with the rise of technology-enabled remote work, yet sustaining productivity and psychological wellbeing in self-directed work environments remains challenging. Gamification—incorporating game-like elements into non-game contexts—has emerged as a potential strategy to enhance motivation, engagement, and emotional regulation. Despite increased reliance on digital tools among Pakistani freelancers, evidence on how gamification influences their work performance and wellbeing remains scarce. This study examined these relationships using validated psychometric measures in a large national sample.

Objective: To investigate whether gamification predicts work efficiency and psychological wellbeing among Pakistani digital nomads and to examine the contribution of its core components.

Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative design was employed. A total of 169 Pakistani digital nomads completed validated scales assessing gamification (α = .968), work efficiency (α = .967), and psychological wellbeing (α = .940). Pearson correlations examined associations among variables, while multiple regression analyses identified the predictive contribution of gamification components, including design, interaction, and feedback.

Results: Gamification demonstrated strong positive correlations with work efficiency (r = .81, p < .01) and psychological wellbeing (r = .90, p < .01). Work efficiency and wellbeing were also strongly correlated (r = .78, p < .01). Regression analyses revealed that gamification-design (β = .56, p = .001) and gamification-interaction (β = .33, p = .019) significantly predicted work efficiency, explaining 67.3% of its variance (R² = .673). The same components significantly predicted psychological wellbeing (β = .42, p < .001; β = .34, p = .003), accounting for 83.1% of its variance (R² = .831). Feedback showed no significant effect.

Conclusion: Structured and interactive gamification features meaningfully enhance productivity and psychological wellbeing among Pakistani digital nomads. These findings highlight the value of embedding motivational design principles into remote work platforms to support performance and emotional resilience in autonomous digital work settings.