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

Adolescents addicted to short-form videos tend to have more sleep problems and social anxiety

by Vladimir Hedrih
September 2, 2024
in Anxiety, Social Media
(Photo credit: Adobe Stock)

(Photo credit: Adobe Stock)

Share on TwitterShare on Facebook
Stay on top of the latest psychology findings: Subscribe now!

A study in China found that adolescents with more severe addiction to short-form videos tend to have worse sleep quality and higher levels of social anxiety. The paper was published in BMC Psychology.

Short-form videos are brief, engaging videos that typically last between 15 seconds and a few minutes. They are designed to capture attention quickly, often featuring fast-paced edits, catchy music, or trending topics. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts have popularized this format, making it a key tool for digital content creators. These videos are ideal for mobile viewing and are often widely shared.

Short-form videos have become extremely popular among adolescents. Statistics from China indicate that there were 934 million users of such videos in December 2021. However, researchers believe that many individuals exhibit signs of addiction to these videos, considering it a new form of video addiction. The researchers define short-form video addiction as “a chronic or periodic obsession characterized by the repeated use of short-form video apps (such as TikTok, Kwai, etc.), resulting in strong and continuous craving and addiction.”

The study authors, Li Jiang and Yizoon Yoo, aimed to explore the relationship between the severity of addiction to short-form videos, social anxiety, and sleep quality. They hypothesized that addiction to short-form videos could lead to reduced sleep quality, with social anxiety potentially playing a role in this relationship. To investigate, they conducted a survey.

The survey included 1,629 first- and second-year high school students in Shandong Province, China, of whom 831 were male. The average age of the participants was 16-17 years.

The survey assessed addiction to short-form videos using a version of the Social Media Dependence Scale adapted specifically for short-form videos, social anxiety using the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale, and sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index.

The results showed that adolescents with more severe symptoms of short-form video addiction tended to report poorer sleep quality and higher levels of social anxiety. Additionally, students with more pronounced social anxiety also reported poorer sleep quality.

The study authors tested a statistical model proposing that addiction to short-form videos increases social anxiety, which, in turn, reduces sleep quality. The results suggested that this relationship is indeed possible, but they also found that the link between short-form video addiction severity and sleep quality is not entirely mediated by social anxiety.

“Short‐form video addiction is positively correlated with adolescents’ sleep quality and social anxiety. Social anxiety partially mediates the relationship between short-form video addiction and sleep quality. The adverse effects of short-form video addiction and social anxiety on the sleep quality of this group must be minimized. Schools are recommended to implement measures to promote sleep quality among adolescents,” the study authors concluded.

While the study sheds light on the link between the severity of short-form video addiction symptoms and sleep quality, the study’s design does not allow for cause-and-effect conclusions. Although the authors suggest that short-form video addiction leads to poorer sleep quality and higher social anxiety, the results only show associations, not causal relationships. Future studies will need to investigate whether addiction to short-form videos indeed reduces sleep quality, or whether students with sleep problems simply spend more time watching short-form videos, potentially as a method of falling asleep.

The paper, “Adolescents’ short-form video addiction and sleep quality: the mediating role of social anxiety,” was authored by Li Jiang and Yizoon Yoo.

TweetSendScanShareSendPin1ShareShareShareShareShare

RELATED

Adults with ADHD face significantly shorter life expectancy, study finds
Anxiety

Study finds “Anxious Mondays” linked to long-term stress and heart health risks in older adults

July 10, 2025

Researchers have discovered that anxiety felt on Mondays is associated with higher long-term cortisol levels in older adults, suggesting the start of the week may contribute to biological stress in ways that extend far beyond the office.

Read moreDetails
Ketamine repairs reward circuitry to reverse stress-induced anhedonia
Anxiety

Virtual reality meditation eases caregiver anxiety during pediatric hospital stays, with stronger benefits for Spanish speakers

July 9, 2025

Researchers at Stanford found that a six-minute guided meditation delivered through a VR headset lowered anxiety levels in parents of hospitalized children. The intervention outperformed standard relaxation methods, with Spanish-speaking caregivers experiencing the greatest benefit.

Read moreDetails
The most popular dementia videos on TikTok tend to have the lowest quality, study find
Addiction

People with short-video addiction show altered brain responses during decision-making

July 8, 2025

People who frequently use short-video apps like TikTok may show reduced loss sensitivity and impulsive decision-making, according to a new neuroimaging study that links addictive use patterns to changes in brain activity during risky choices.

Read moreDetails
Heightened anxiety linked to an impaired ability to simulate alternative versions of past events
Anxiety

New research reveals emotional control deficits in generalized anxiety disorder

July 7, 2025

A new study suggests that individuals with generalized anxiety disorder have difficulty focusing on relevant emotional information and shifting attention between emotional tasks, highlighting impairments in affective control that may contribute to chronic anxiety symptoms.

Read moreDetails
Scientists show how you’re unknowingly sealing yourself in an information bubble
Cognitive Science

Scientists show how you’re unknowingly sealing yourself in an information bubble

June 29, 2025

Scientists have found that belief polarization doesn’t always come from misinformation or social media bubbles. Instead, it often begins with a simple search. Our choice of words—and the algorithm’s response—can subtly seal us inside our own informational comfort zones.

Read moreDetails
Liver health may influence mental health via inflammation and glutamate levels
Anxiety

Liver health may influence mental health via inflammation and glutamate levels

June 28, 2025

A new study suggests that diets high in fat and fructose can damage the liver and trigger anxiety-like behaviors in mice. The research also found that corilagin, a natural compound, reversed many of these harmful effects.

Read moreDetails
TikTok tics study sheds light on recovery trends and ongoing mental health challenges
Body Image and Body Dysmorphia

TikTok and similar platforms linked to body dissatisfaction and eating disorder symptoms

June 27, 2025

Frequent use of platforms like TikTok and YouTube Shorts is linked to disordered eating symptoms among teens, according to new research. The study found that body comparisons and dissatisfaction may help explain this troubling association—especially among girls.

Read moreDetails
How people end romantic relationships: New study pinpoints three common break up strategies
Anxiety

Spider fear inflates size perception, highlighting the role of emotion in threat assessment

June 26, 2025

A new study finds that people afraid of spiders perceive them as larger than they really are, while arachnology experts judge their size accurately. The findings shed light on how emotion and knowledge shape perception of threatening creatures.

Read moreDetails

SUBSCRIBE

Go Ad-Free! Click here to subscribe to PsyPost and support independent science journalism!

STAY CONNECTED

LATEST

Dementia: Your lifetime risk may be far greater than previously thought

Psychopathic tendencies may be associated with specific hormonal patterns

Scientists use deep learning to uncover hidden motor signs of neurodivergence

Study finds “Anxious Mondays” linked to long-term stress and heart health risks in older adults

Adults treated with psychostimulants for ADHD show increased brain surface complexity, study finds

Is humor inherited? Twin study suggests the ability to be funny may not run in the family

Testosterone shifts political preferences in weakly affiliated Democratic men, study finds

Can sunshine make you happier? A massive study offers a surprising answer

         
       
  • Contact us
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms and Conditions
[Do not sell my information]

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

Subscribe
  • My Account
  • Cognitive Science Research
  • Mental Health Research
  • Social Psychology Research
  • Drug Research
  • Relationship Research
  • About PsyPost
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy