Research on the Mechanisms of Information Overload and Information Avoidance Behavior in College Students with Psychological Disorders in the Context of Social Media

Abstract

Abstract Background: The rapid expansion of social media has given rise to a myriad of challenges among college students facing psychological distress. An abundance of fragmented and repetitive information, often referred to as information overload, inundates users on social media platforms. This inundation presents significant hurdles for college students experiencing psychological distress when acquiring and processing information. This study investigates the associative mechanisms between information overload in the context of social media and information avoidance behaviors among college students experiencing psychological distress. Methods: From May to November 2023, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 college students experiencing psychological distress in a prefecture-level city in Henan Province, China, to collect textual data. Grounded theory was employed to conduct three-level coding of the 30 sets of textual data. Special emphasis was placed on analyzing the process of perceiving social media information overload. Subsequently, this analysis served as the foundation for constructing a factor model influencing information avoidance behaviors among college students experiencing psychological distress. Results: The study findings indicate that, within the context of social media, college students experiencing psychological distress are prone to prolonged exposure to information overload, leading to the development of negative emotions such as anxiety and fatigue, subsequently resulting in dissatisfaction with social media. In order to alleviate these negative emotions, they employ information avoidance strategies. These strategies evolve from initially skipping or skimming information to eventually directly avoiding or even discontinuing the use of specific social media platforms. This process is not only closely linked to negative emotions but is also influenced by negative cognitive tendencies. Coupled with the role of virtual social satisfaction and social scarcity, it easily triggers social comparisons and the fear of missing out, resulting in a cyclic impact. Conclusions: Within the context of social media, information overload and information avoidance behaviors among college students experiencing psychological distress are subject to a cyclic influence stemming from negative emotions, negative cognitive tendencies, virtual social satisfaction and social scarcity, social comparisons, and the fear of missing out. This study explores the mechanisms underlying the impact of information overload and information avoidance behaviors among college students experiencing psychological distress within the context of social media. It offers valuable insights for the prevention and intervention of psychological crises among college students.