Why We Cannot Stop Watching: Tension and Subjective Anxious Affect as Central Emotional Predictors of Short-Form Video Addiction

Negative emotional states (stress, anxiety, and depression) are common comorbid factors of short-form video addiction, but how they predict each other remains unclear. This longitudinal study aims to identify the key symptoms linking the four disorders among adolescents. A total of 2913 Chinese adolescents completed the questionnaires of short-form video addiction, stress, anxiety, and depression at two time points with a 6-month interval. The cross-lagged panel network analysis showed that (1) “Feeling of tension” was the most influential symptom within the comorbidity network, being the most likely to predict subsequent others symptoms; (2) “Feeling of tension” and “Subjective experience of anxious affect” are strongest predictors of the subsequent short-form video addiction; and (3) “Withdrawal” and “Relapse and reinstatement” belonging to short-form video addiction are most influenced by previous negative emotional states. These findings suggest that targeting these key symptoms in interventions may help disrupt the cycle of addiction and emotional distress.