Doomscrolling, Sleep Quality, and Psychological Distress Among Young Adults: A Review

Abstract

Doomscrolling refers to the compulsive tendency to continue consuming negative or distressing online content despite the discomfort it causes. This paper reviews current psychological literature examining how doomscrolling relates to sleep quality and psychological distress among young adults, a population with particularly high rates of smartphone and social media use. Evidence from recent studies indicates that doomscrolling and related patterns of heavy digital media use are consistently associated with poorer sleep quality and elevated symptoms of anxiety and depression, and that disrupted sleep may itself act as a pathway through which doomscrolling contributes to psychological distress. The paper discusses possible explanations for these patterns, including intolerance of uncertainty and heightened emotional arousal from negative content, and considers what these findings mean for young adults and mental health professionals in India, where research specifically on doomscrolling remains limited even as related digital-behaviour research grows. The paper closes with a discussion of gaps in the current literature and suggestions for future research.