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A Stress-Induced Digital Escapism Framework for Understanding the Link Between Stress and Problematic Social Media
Hwajin Yang1, Frosch Y X Quek1, Salin X H Yap1
1School of Social Sciences, Singapore Management University, 10 Caning Rise, Singapore 179873, Singapore.
Behavioral Sciences (Basel, Switzerland)
|June 26, 2026
Summary
Stress can lead to problematic social media use through digital escapism. The Stress-Induced Digital Escapism (SIDE) framework explains how negative emotions from stress drive compulsive social media use.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Behavioral Science
- Digital Media Studies
Background:
- Stress is a known risk factor for problematic social media use.
- Understanding the psychological mechanisms linking stress and social media use is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and test the Stress-Induced Digital Escapism (SIDE) framework.
- To examine the sequential mediation pathways from external demands to problematic social media use.
Main Methods:
- Structural equation modeling was used with 238 participants.
- Three sequential mediators were examined: negative stress reactions, maladaptive emotion regulation, and escapism motives.
Main Results:
- External demands were indirectly associated with problematic social media use.
- This association was mediated sequentially by negative emotional responses, maladaptive emotion regulation (venting, reassurance-seeking), and escapism motives.
- The proposed SIDE framework model was robust.
Conclusions:
- The SIDE framework provides a unified explanation for stress-related problematic social media use.
- Maladaptive emotion regulation and escapism motives are key psychological mechanisms.
- Findings highlight the role of psychological processes in digital escapism and compulsive social media behavior.
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