Is there a link between childhood trauma and video addiction?
Researchers say yes, and it’s a growing concern
Short-form videos, like those typically found on TikTok, have become a worldwide phenomenon, captivating millions of young users. Now, researchers suggest that childhood trauma could drive some of them towards excessive or compulsive use of this kind of content.
The study
The study, published in the journal Computers in Human Behavior, reveals that traumatic experiences such as abuse and neglect could increase susceptibility to this form of addiction. In other words, individuals who have experienced childhood trauma could be more likely to develop an addiction to short-form videos.
Methodology
The research team collected data from 11,425 students in Wuhan, China. The participants, with an average age of 20, were asked about their childhood experiences, resilience, life satisfaction, and level of addiction to short-form videos. Childhood experiences were categorized into various types such as neglect, abuse, a dysfunctional family, and exposure to violence.
Results
The results reveal students who reported more negative childhood experiences, particularly neglect and abuse, were more likely to show signs of addiction to short-form videos. Those with five or more types of negative experiences were up to 4.7 times more likely to develop this kind of addiction compared to those with no such experiences.
Video platforms, with their algorithms and personalized content, encourage prolonged engagement, sometimes to the detriment of users. (Envato Elements pic)
Resilience and life satisfaction
The study also shines light on how resilience and life satisfaction can weigh in the balance. Students with negative experiences tended to have lower levels of resilience and life satisfaction, which in turn was associated with higher rates of addiction to short-form videos.
Conclusion
The study suggests a possible link between childhood trauma and addiction to short-form video content. Interventions focusing on the early prevention of adverse childhood experiences, along with promoting resilience and life satisfaction, may prove beneficial in preventing short-form video addiction among young people.
FAQs
Q: What is the link between childhood trauma and video addiction?
A: Researchers found that traumatic experiences such as abuse and neglect could increase susceptibility to addiction to short-form videos.
Q: How common is this phenomenon?
A: The study suggests that individuals who have experienced childhood trauma could be more likely to develop an addiction to short-form videos, particularly those with five or more types of negative experiences.
Q: What can be done to prevent this?
A: Interventions focusing on the early prevention of adverse childhood experiences, along with promoting resilience and life satisfaction, may prove beneficial in preventing short-form video addiction among young people.