The metacognitive-motivational links between stress and short-form video addiction

Ruimei Sun, Meng Xuan Zhang, Chunmin Yeh, Carolina Oi Lam Ung and Anise M.S. Wu

Technology in Society, 2024, vol. 77, issue C

Abstract: The recent, sudden growth of short-form video platforms, such as TikTok, has prompted public concern regarding short-form video addiction (SVA), a potential behavioral addiction with adverse health and social consequences. Whereas stress is positively related to SVA, research investigating its underlying psychological mechanism is warranted. Based on the self-regulatory executive function model, this study examined the potential mediating roles of metacognition and motives for short-form video use in a snowball sample of 422 participants, aged 15–66 years (36.3% male; Mage = 26.55, SD = 11.38), via an anonymous online survey. Consistent with the results of structural equation modeling, those of path analysis supported the mediating roles of metacognition (i.e., positive beliefs about worry [POS] and negative beliefs about worry [NEG]) and motives (for escape/coping). To be specific, the significant mediators of the stress-SVA link were POS (β = 0.041, 95% CI [0.006, 0.081]), NEG (β = 0.102, 95% CI [0.026, 0.180]), escape motive (β = 0.052, 95% CI [0.010, 0.103]), as well as NEG and escape motive serially (β = 0.039, 95% CI [0.008, 0.079]). Our findings suggest not only the central role of metacognition, through which stress activates one's motives to use short-form video to escape/cope, contributing to SVA, but also the risk-enhancing roles of NEG and escape motive in explaining the metacognitive-motivational mechanisms underlying the positive association between stress and SVA. Intervention programs for behavioral addictions, including SVA, may consider regulating metacognition of individuals, especially those under high levels of stress.

Keywords: Short-form video addiction; Stress; Metacognition; Escape/coping motives (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:teinso:v:77:y:2024:i:c:s0160791x24000964

DOI: 10.1016/j.techsoc.2024.102548

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