The Relationships Between Doomscrolling and Anxiety, Depression, and Coping

Abstract

The present study sought to investigate the relationships between doomscrolling behaviors, anxiety, depression, and a person's coping ability. First, doomscrolling was conceptualized and defined to understand the behavior's underpinnings. Further, relevant literature was reviewed to understand the known research about its connection to adverse mental health outcomes and how coping ability may impact these relationships. The study used a quantitative cross-sectional online survey methodology to explore relationships between doomscrolling behaviors, symptoms of anxiety and depression, and coping ability using several self-report measures (i.e., The Doomscrolling Scale, Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21, and Brief Resilient Coping Scale). The results indicated positive predictive relationships between doomscrolling behaviors and symptoms of both anxiety and depression. However, the results indicated a person's perceived coping ability had little to no impact on these relationships. This study added to the currently limited body of research regarding adverse mental health outcomes connected to doomscrolling behaviors. Further, it discussed clinical applications and areas for future research in this growing body of research.