Spending too much time scrolling through sensationalized news and negative social media posts may lead you to question the meaning and purpose of life. In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers discovered that this habit, known as “doomscrolling,” is linked to existential anxiety.
The study examined data from 800 Iranian and American university students who were all active social media users. Researchers found that, despite the distinctions between cultural perspectives, doomscrolling increased the likelihood of experiencing symptoms of existential anxiety in both groups.
“The existential dimensions of news consumption, particularly in the context of negative-tone news, remain a relatively underexplored facet of the psychology of news consumption,” the study’s lead author, Reza Shabahang, said in an email interview with The Epoch Times. “Our study sought to provide preliminary insights into this overlooked area.”...
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