Addiction journal
Addiction journal
Stress and online social networks with Annica Kessling and Elisa Wegmann
Stress and online social networks with Annica Kessling and Elisa Wegmann
Stress and online social networks with Annica Kessling and Elisa Wegmann
Friday 23rd January 2026
Explore how stress impacts social media use with experts Annica Kessling and Elisa Wegmann in this insightful episode.
20 minutes
Informative
Inspiring
Educational
Engaging
Eye-opening
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Addiction journal
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Navigating Alcohol Dependency
Understanding Addiction & Recovery
Navigating Intimate Relationships
Family Recovery from Addiction
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Get the buttons here!Stress and Social Media: A Complicated Relationship
Episode Overview
- Stress increases the urge to use social networks for both problematic and non-problematic users.
- Problematic social network use is comparable to gaming or gambling disorders.
- Attentional bias was observed in control groups under no stress.
- Social networks are often used as a coping mechanism for stress.
- More research is needed to understand real-life implications.
"Stress increased the urge to use social networks in both groups, whether or not they had problematic use."
Ever wondered how stress and social media intertwine in our daily lives? This episode of Addiction Audio brings you a fascinating conversation with Dr Elisa Wegmann and Annica Kessling from the University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany. These brilliant minds delve into their research on the effects of acute psychosocial stress on women with problematic social network use. They explore the complex relationship between stress, cue-reactivity, and attentional bias in those who might be scrolling their way into trouble.
The episode kicks off with an exploration of what constitutes 'problematic' social network use—a term that’s as controversial as it is intriguing. Dr Wegmann and Kessling argue that while many enjoy social media without issue, some may develop behaviours akin to gambling or gaming disorders. Their study uses experimental methods to see if stress exacerbates these tendencies, revealing that stress indeed ups the urge to check those notifications.
One of the more unexpected findings was that even those without problematic use showed increased attentional bias under stress. Could it be that social media is our modern-day pacifier? The researchers suggest that while stress can heighten the craving for a digital fix, it doesn’t automatically spell addiction for everyone. The episode wraps up with a call for more research into how these dynamics play out in real life, beyond the lab's controlled environment.
This is a must-listen for anyone curious about the psychological impact of our ever-connected lives. So, next time you feel stressed and reach for your phone, you might just stop and think about what’s really going on.