Struggling to Identify Emotions May Increase Vulnerability to TikTok Addiction

Why It Matters

Understanding the emotional and attentional drivers of short‑video addiction enables more effective mental‑health interventions and informs platform policies aimed at reducing harmful usage patterns.

Key Takeaways

• Attachment anxiety raises short‑video addiction risk.
• Poor attentional control mediates anxiety‑addiction link.
• Alexithymia intensifies vulnerability to TikTok overuse.
• Attention training may protect against short‑video addiction.
• Study limited by self‑report and gender imbalance.

Pulse Analysis

Short‑video platforms like TikTok have reshaped digital consumption, delivering bite‑sized, dopamine‑triggering content that keeps users scrolling for hours. While screen‑time metrics dominate headlines, emerging research shows that the addiction’s roots lie deeper in users’ emotional makeup and cognitive control. As the global short‑video market surpasses $30 billion, understanding these psychological underpinnings becomes crucial for advertisers, regulators, and mental‑health professionals seeking to balance engagement with well‑being.

The recent Chinese study links attachment anxiety—a fear of abandonment formed early in life—to heightened susceptibility to short‑video addiction. Participants with higher anxiety scores also displayed lower attentional control and greater alexithymic traits, meaning they struggled to identify and articulate emotions. These deficits create a feedback loop: emotional distress drives users toward the instant gratification of short videos, while the constant stimulus further erodes focus and self‑awareness. By mapping this pathway, the research underscores that addiction is not merely a habit but a coping mechanism for unresolved emotional needs.

Practically, the findings suggest that interventions should target attention regulation and emotional literacy rather than imposing blunt screen‑time caps. Mind‑fulness training, structured focus exercises, and reflective journaling can enhance attentional control, offering a protective buffer against compulsive viewing. For educators and employers, integrating brief mindfulness breaks and promoting digital‑wellness curricula may reduce the prevalence of short‑video addiction among young adults. Meanwhile, platforms could experiment with features that encourage periodic pauses and provide emotional‑health resources, aligning user engagement with responsible design. Future longitudinal studies will be essential to confirm causality and refine these strategies.