Subscribe
The latest psychology and neuroscience discoveries.
My Account
  • Mental Health
  • Social Psychology
  • Cognitive Science
  • Psychopharmacology
No Result
View All Result
PsyPost
PsyPost
No Result
View All Result
Home Exclusive Social Psychology Social Media

Psychologists have started to examine why people engage in “sad-fishing” on the internet

by Laura Staloch
December 2, 2022
in Social Media

[Subscribe to PsyPost on YouTube to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in psychology and neuroscience]

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

New research published in the Journal of American College Health investigated the relationship of sad-fishing to attachment style as well as interpersonal and online support. The findings indicate that those who engage in “sad-fishing” online might be more likely to have an anxious attachment style. However, those who engaged in sad-fishing did not differ from others in their interpersonal and online support.

Social media has become a tool for social connection, especially for adolescents and emerging adults. Social connection can be sought out in ways both positive and negative. The research team defines sad-fishing as “a tendency of social media users to publish exaggerations of their emotional states to generate sympathy.”

Engaging in sad-fishing may leave individuals vulnerable to rejection when seeking help. It also may become a pathological tool used to manipulate those in their social circle. Both outcomes may result in significant challenges for the sad-fisher. Secondarily, when social media consumers become desensitized to suffering due to the assumption that most people are sad-fishing, those who need help may not get it.

Cara Petrofes and her colleagues aimed to discover what psychological elements may motivate some to engage in sad-fishing. Their hypothesis stated that they felt sad-fishers would have a more anxious attachment style and lower interpersonal and/or online support levels.

The research participants were obtained through advertisements on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, as well as around the campus of a large U.S. university. This campaign secured 347 participants. These individuals filled out a qualitative measure of sad-fishing behaviors. Subjects were asked if they felt compelled to exaggerate a personal or health situation online. These responses categorized individuals into groups of “sad-fishers” or “non-sad-fishers.”

Participants in both groups then completed interpersonal support, online social support, and adult attachment style measures. Demographic and social media usage data were also collected, and participants were found to be very similar in both areas.

When the data was analyzed, there were no significant differences between sad-fishers, and non-sad-fishers and their levels of interpersonal or social support. Those labeled as sad-fishers were slightly more likely to have higher scores on their measure of anxious attachment. Anxious attachment refers to how individuals relate to others, in this case, with behaviors that reflect concerns about abandonment or the strength of the relationship. 

In considering the possible explanations for the findings, the research team proposed, “it follows that if an individual reports a more anxious attachment style, they may also be more likely to report a greater tendency to manipulate others in their quest to form a relationship or bond.”

The researchers acknowledged some limitations, including the data did not reveal a statistically significant relationship between sad-fishing and anxious attachment, just a “trend” toward a meaningful correlation. They also recommend that a quantitative measure be developed to reliably identify those who engage in sad-fishing.  

Petrofac and the team conclude by recommending further study into the motivations behind sad-fishing for the purpose of developing better therapeutic interventions.  

The study, “Sad-fishing: Understanding a maladaptive social media behavior in college students“, was authored by Cara Petrofes, Krista Howard, Azucena Mayberry, Catherine Bitney, and Nataie Ceballos.

ShareTweetSendScanShareSharePin7Send

NEWSLETTER SIGN-UP

STAY CONNECTED

TRENDING

One in four people may experience estrangement from a sibling in adulthood, study finds

New study shows how mindfulness can benefit our romantic relationships

The fascinating neuroscience behind dreaming

Cognitive control serves to override the moral default in both honesty and dishonesty

Women are more attracted to men with tougher facial features when facing uncertainty, study finds

New psychology research reveals men’s motives for sending unsolicited dick pics

RECENT

Parents with more difficult childhoods are more likely to spank their children, study finds

Study suggests partisan resentment is bad for your health

The fascinating neuroscience behind dreaming

New study shows how mindfulness can benefit our romantic relationships

New study sheds light on how scarcity is experienced across different sociodemographic groups

One in four people may experience estrangement from a sibling in adulthood, study finds

Cognitive control serves to override the moral default in both honesty and dishonesty

The passage of anti-transgender legislation increases internet searches for “suicide” and “depression”

Currently Playing

Individuals with dark personality traits are less oriented towards long-term mating strategies

Disclosing victim status reduces online dating matches regardless of race or sex

Individuals with dark personality traits are less oriented towards long-term mating strategies

Dark Triad
Longitudinal study examines the effects of adversity on wise reasoning

New study examines the psychological mechanisms underlying Solomon’s paradox

Social Psychology
Engaging in religious practice, even if you don’t believe, may increase your capacity to delay gratification

Engaging in religious practice, even if you don’t believe, may increase your capacity to delay gratification

Cognitive Science
New study sheds light on how three distinct types of first impressions predict subsequent dating outcomes

New study sheds light on how three distinct types of first impressions predict subsequent dating outcomes

Relationships and Sexual Health
A single, moderate dose of psilocybin reduces depressive symptoms for at least two weeks, controlled study finds

A single, moderate dose of psilocybin reduces depressive symptoms for at least two weeks, controlled study finds

Depression
Study identifies factors that influence the link between men’s body esteem and their ability to enjoy their sexuality

Study identifies factors that influence the link between men’s body esteem and their ability to enjoy their sexuality

Mental Health
  • Cognitive Science
  • COVID-19
  • Mental Health
  • Social Psychology
  • Drug Research
  • Conspiracy Theories
  • Meditation
  • Psychology of Religion
  • Aviation Psychology and Human Factors
  • Relationships and Sexual Health
  • Evolutionary Psychology
  • Neuroimaging
  • Psychedelic Drugs
  • Dark Triad
  • Political Psychology

About

PsyPost is a psychology and neuroscience news website dedicated to reporting the latest research on human behavior, cognition, and society. (READ MORE...)

  • Contact us
  • Privacy policy

Subscribe
  • My Account
  • Cognitive Science Research
  • Mental Health Research
  • Social Psychology Research
  • About PsyPost
    • Contact us
  • Privacy policy

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used.