New Psychological Study Links Childhood Attachment Anxiety to Increased Risk of Short Video Addiction in Young Adults

A new study finds that attachment anxiety and poor emotional processing significantly increase the risk of short video addiction in young adults.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 27, 2026, 10:14 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Frontiers.

The Rise of Short Video Addiction as a Clinical Concern

In an era where brief, high-reward digital content is ubiquitous, psychologists are increasingly concerned about the emergence of Short Video Addiction (SVA). Unlike general social media use, SVA is characterized by a specific inability to regulate the consumption of "snackable" video content, leading to diminished productivity and negative mental health outcomes. According to lead author Haodong Su, the biological appeal of these videos lies in their information density, which provides rapid dopamine hits to the brain. However, the underlying vulnerability to this addiction appears to be deeply psychological, rooted in how individuals manage their relationships and internal emotional states.

Attachment Anxiety as a Predictor of Digital Dependency

The study of 342 students aged 18 to 22 found that attachment anxiety—an insecure relationship style marked by a constant need for reassurance—is a significant predictor of short video dependency. Individuals who harbor a fear of abandonment often struggle with internal emotional regulation, leading them to seek external "stabilizers." The researchers argue that the endless stream of short videos serves as a form of emotional escape, providing a temporary distraction from the stressors associated with insecure attachments. This relationship pattern, often established in early childhood, appears to create a cognitive baseline that makes the instant gratification of digital media particularly difficult to resist.

The Role of Alexithymia and Emotional Processing

A key mediator in the path to addiction is "alexithymia," a trait where an individual has profound difficulty identifying and describing their own emotions. The study revealed that those with high attachment anxiety frequently exhibit alexithymic traits, leaving them unable to process complex feelings effectively. "Individuals with more severe alexithymia symptoms showed significantly higher levels of SVA," Su explains, suggesting that when people cannot articulate their distress, they turn to the sensory immersion of short videos to numb their emotional confusion. This creates a cycle where digital consumption replaces healthy emotional reflection, further entrenching the addictive pattern.