A groundbreaking study has unveiled a potential correlation between distress intolerance and the development of problematic TikTok use. The research, published in Computers in Human Behavior, delved into the psychological factors contributing to the severity of TikTok addiction, highlighting distress intolerance as a key player.
Since its introduction in 2016, TikTok has rapidly gained global popularity, boasting over a billion active users per month. The platform allows individuals to create, share, and engage with short videos and live streams. Its standout feature lies in its ability to curate personalized content feeds, capturing users' attention and driving their prolonged engagement.
With TikTok's exponential growth, concerns have arisen regarding problematic use, characterized by addiction-like symptoms such as loss of control, withdrawal when unable to access the app, intense cravings, and disruption of daily life.
Prominent psychological factors that contribute to problematic social media use include depression and social anxiety. Nevertheless, the specific psychological mechanisms that drive this relationship have received limited exploration thus far.
To address this research gap, Nisha Yao and her research team undertook a study that aimed to investigate the potential mediating roles of distress intolerance and boredom proneness. Boredom proneness encompasses a proclivity to feel bored, resulting from challenges in maintaining focus and engaging in fulfilling tasks. Conversely, distress intolerance pertains to an individual's perceived incapacity to effectively manage distressing emotions.
The research team recruited 1,428 Chinese TikTok users through Credamo, an online survey provider. Participants were required to possess a TikTok account, report regular usage several times a week, and consider TikTok as their primary video platform. The study encompassed assessments of depression, social anxiety, boredom proneness, distress intolerance, TikTok usage patterns, and symptoms of problematic TikTok use. A subset of adult participants completed the same assessments two months later.
The findings revealed that the measured factors remained relatively stable between the two data collection points, with distress intolerance being the only exception, showing a slight decrease over time. The median daily usage reported by participants averaged 1.5 to 2 hours, primarily centered around watching videos and live streams rather than creating content.
Notably, younger users, those with lower educational attainment, and individuals spending more time on TikTok exhibited higher severity of problematic TikTok use. Additionally, participants who predominantly consumed videos, as opposed to live streams, tended to experience more pronounced symptoms of problematic use.
The statistical analysis indicated that depression and social anxiety potentially influenced both boredom proneness and distress intolerance. However, the severity of problematic TikTok use was found to be mediated solely through distress intolerance, with no significant role played by boredom proneness.
The study authors propose that individuals grappling with depression and social anxiety may struggle to process emotions effectively and possess a diminished tolerance for distress. Consequently, they experience a compelling urge to alleviate distress promptly, perceiving distressful feelings as unbearable and lacking confidence in their coping mechanisms. This compulsion to rapidly escape or mitigate distress may lead to excessive or problematic TikTok use as a coping mechanism.
While shedding light on the psychological factors contributing to problematic TikTok use, the study has certain limitations. The participants were sourced through an online survey provider, raising questions about the generalizability of the results. Furthermore, the analysis solely focused on adult users, and the findings may diverge for younger users.
By unraveling the intricate relationship between distress intolerance and problematic TikTok use, this research provides crucial insights into the underlying psychological foundations. Such insights pave the way for future interventions and strategies aimed at curbing excessive and potentially detrimental engagement with social media platforms. The study, authored by Nisha Yao, Jing Chen, Siyuan Huang, Christian Montag, and Jon D. Elhai, serves as a stepping stone toward a better understanding of digital well
Read next: Is Instagram Replacing Twitter? The Data Says Yes
Since its introduction in 2016, TikTok has rapidly gained global popularity, boasting over a billion active users per month. The platform allows individuals to create, share, and engage with short videos and live streams. Its standout feature lies in its ability to curate personalized content feeds, capturing users' attention and driving their prolonged engagement.
With TikTok's exponential growth, concerns have arisen regarding problematic use, characterized by addiction-like symptoms such as loss of control, withdrawal when unable to access the app, intense cravings, and disruption of daily life.
Prominent psychological factors that contribute to problematic social media use include depression and social anxiety. Nevertheless, the specific psychological mechanisms that drive this relationship have received limited exploration thus far.
To address this research gap, Nisha Yao and her research team undertook a study that aimed to investigate the potential mediating roles of distress intolerance and boredom proneness. Boredom proneness encompasses a proclivity to feel bored, resulting from challenges in maintaining focus and engaging in fulfilling tasks. Conversely, distress intolerance pertains to an individual's perceived incapacity to effectively manage distressing emotions.
The research team recruited 1,428 Chinese TikTok users through Credamo, an online survey provider. Participants were required to possess a TikTok account, report regular usage several times a week, and consider TikTok as their primary video platform. The study encompassed assessments of depression, social anxiety, boredom proneness, distress intolerance, TikTok usage patterns, and symptoms of problematic TikTok use. A subset of adult participants completed the same assessments two months later.
The findings revealed that the measured factors remained relatively stable between the two data collection points, with distress intolerance being the only exception, showing a slight decrease over time. The median daily usage reported by participants averaged 1.5 to 2 hours, primarily centered around watching videos and live streams rather than creating content.
Notably, younger users, those with lower educational attainment, and individuals spending more time on TikTok exhibited higher severity of problematic TikTok use. Additionally, participants who predominantly consumed videos, as opposed to live streams, tended to experience more pronounced symptoms of problematic use.
The statistical analysis indicated that depression and social anxiety potentially influenced both boredom proneness and distress intolerance. However, the severity of problematic TikTok use was found to be mediated solely through distress intolerance, with no significant role played by boredom proneness.
The study authors propose that individuals grappling with depression and social anxiety may struggle to process emotions effectively and possess a diminished tolerance for distress. Consequently, they experience a compelling urge to alleviate distress promptly, perceiving distressful feelings as unbearable and lacking confidence in their coping mechanisms. This compulsion to rapidly escape or mitigate distress may lead to excessive or problematic TikTok use as a coping mechanism.
While shedding light on the psychological factors contributing to problematic TikTok use, the study has certain limitations. The participants were sourced through an online survey provider, raising questions about the generalizability of the results. Furthermore, the analysis solely focused on adult users, and the findings may diverge for younger users.
By unraveling the intricate relationship between distress intolerance and problematic TikTok use, this research provides crucial insights into the underlying psychological foundations. Such insights pave the way for future interventions and strategies aimed at curbing excessive and potentially detrimental engagement with social media platforms. The study, authored by Nisha Yao, Jing Chen, Siyuan Huang, Christian Montag, and Jon D. Elhai, serves as a stepping stone toward a better understanding of digital well
Read next: Is Instagram Replacing Twitter? The Data Says Yes
