The study recruited adolescents aged 13 to 18 who were attending high schools in a provincial center in eastern Türkiye. Participants completed a demographic information form along with three validated instruments: the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale, which measures the core features of behavioral addiction such as salience, tolerance, mood modification, and conflict; the Friendship Qualities Scale, which assesses dimensions of peer relationships such as companionship, help, intimacy, and conflict; and the Adolescents’ Attitudes Toward Violence Scale, which captures how acceptable young people consider violent behavior to be. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ardahan University Non-Interventional Research Ethics Committee, with written informed consent from parents or legal guardians and assent from the adolescents themselves, and the study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.

The headline numbers are striking in their ordinariness. The mean Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale score in the sample was 17.18, with a standard deviation of 5.30 — a figure suggesting that, on average, these adolescents were not in the extreme range of problematic use, though individual scores varied considerably. The mean peer relations score was 82.15, and the mean attitude toward violence score was 24.69. What matters for the study’s central question is not the raw averages but the correlations between them, and it is there that the researchers found their most interesting result.

Using Pearson correlation analysis, the team found a positive and statistically significant association between social media addiction scores and attitudes toward violence: the correlation coefficient was 0.214, with a p-value below .001. In practical terms, adolescents who reported more compulsive, dependency-like engagement with social media platforms were also more likely to view violence as acceptable. The correlation is modest — a coefficient of 0.214 means the two variables share only a small fraction of their variance — but in a sample of 450, it is unlikely to be a statistical fluke. Importantly, a cross-sectional design cannot establish which way the arrow points, or whether a third factor drives both. Adolescents already prone to aggression may gravitate toward certain online content, or the content itself may shape attitudes, or both processes may reinforce each other over time.

The second major finding was, in a sense, the absence of one. The correlation between social media addiction and the quality of peer relationships was essentially zero, at r = 0.004, which was not statistically significant. This null result challenges a common intuition: that teenagers who are glued to their phones must be sacrificing the depth and warmth of their real-world friendships. In this sample, at least, problematic social media use and friendship quality appeared to operate on independent tracks. A teenager could score high on social media addiction while still reporting strong, supportive friendships — or low on addiction with strained peer relations — without any systematic link between the two.

To test these relationships more rigorously, the researchers turned to multiple linear regression, a statistical technique that estimates the unique contribution of each predictor while holding the others constant. When both social media addiction and peer relationship quality were entered as predictors of attitudes toward violence, only social media addiction remained a significant factor, with a standardized beta coefficient of 0.126 and a p-value below .001. Peer relations, once the shared variance was accounted for, showed no significant association with violent attitudes. The picture that emerges is one in which problematic social media use stands apart as the variable of interest, while friendship quality — however important it may be for other aspects of adolescent development — did not predict attitudes toward violence in this model.

The researchers were candid about the limits of their explanatory power. The regression model explained just 4.2 percent of the variance in the outcome, an R-squared of 0.042, which the authors themselves describe as limited. This is an important caveat for anyone tempted to over-interpret the findings. Attitudes toward violence in adolescence are shaped by a vast web of influences — family environment, socioeconomic conditions, exposure to violence at home or in the community, personality traits, gender norms, and media consumption far beyond social platforms. A single model built on two psychological variables was never going to account for much of that complexity. What the study offers is not a comprehensive explanation but a targeted, statistically supported association that justifies deeper investigation.

Why might social media addiction and violent attitudes travel together? The authors suggest that problematic social media use should be understood not merely as a social phenomenon but in relation to behavioral and psychosocial factors. Several mechanisms are plausible and consistent with the broader literature. Compulsive use often involves prolonged exposure to algorithmically curated content, which can include aggressive, degrading, or violent material. The disinhibiting anonymity of online spaces may normalize hostile communication styles that bleed into offline attitudes. Sleep disruption, mood dysregulation, and impulsivity — all documented correlates of problematic digital use — are themselves linked to irritability and aggressive responding. And for some adolescents, social media may become a stage for relational aggression, cyberbullying, and status contests in which hostility is rewarded with attention. None of these pathways was tested directly in this study, but each offers a testable hypothesis for future longitudinal work.

The null finding on peer relationships deserves its own reflection. Friendship quality is often treated as a protective factor against a wide range of adolescent risk behaviors, and it may well be. But this study suggests that protective friendships do not necessarily buffer the association between compulsive social media use and violent attitudes — or, put differently, that the mechanism linking heavy social media use to violent attitudes does not run through the quality of adolescents’ offline friendships. That distinction matters for intervention design. A program that strengthens peer bonds may improve wellbeing in many ways, yet the data here hint that it may not, by itself, blunt the attitudinal correlates of problematic digital habits.

The practical implications the authors draw are correspondingly focused. They point to school-based interventions and digital literacy programs as promising avenues for promoting healthier social media use among adolescents. Digital literacy, in this framing, is not just about spotting misinformation; it encompasses the self-regulatory skills needed to recognize compulsive patterns of use, critically evaluate the content a feed delivers, and understand how online experiences can shape emotions and attitudes. Because the study was conducted in a single provincial center with a cross-sectional design, generalization requires caution — attitudes toward violence and patterns of platform use vary across cultures, regions, and age bands. Still, the study’s methodological transparency, its use of validated instruments, and its honest reporting of a small effect size make it a useful building block. As researchers worldwide grapple with the mental and behavioral consequences of an always-online adolescence, findings like these — modest, carefully bounded, but statistically firm — are exactly the kind of evidence that accumulates into understanding. The next step is longitudinal and experimental work that can disentangle whether compulsive scrolling nudges attitudes toward violence, whether pre-existing attitudes drive the scrolling, or whether both spring from a common psychological root.

Subject of Research: The association between social media addiction, peer relationship quality, and attitudes toward violence among adolescents

Article Title: Associations between social media addiction, peer relationships and attitudes toward violence among adolescents: a cross-sectional study

Article References: Dursun, E., Oluç, T., Arga, Z., Akyol, T., & Çiftci, K. (2026). Associations between social media addiction, peer relationships and attitudes toward violence among adolescents: a cross-sectional study. BMC Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-026-05699-5

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1186/s40359-026-05699-5

Keywords: adolescents, social media addiction, peer relationships, attitudes toward violence, cross-sectional study, Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale, digital literacy, adolescent psychology, problematic social media use, regression analysis, Türkiye, school-based interventions

The explosion of short-form video platforms such as TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts has revolutionized the way adolescents engage with content. Unlike traditional media, these platforms offer rapidly consumable, visually rich content designed to captivate and retain attention through continuous, algorithm-driven feeds. While these videos serve as sources of entertainment, education, and social connection, their pervasive nature and the emphasis on aesthetics warrant critical examination regarding their effects on youths’ self-perception and mental health.

Kong and colleagues’ research presents compelling evidence connecting excessive short-form video consumption with an increase in restrained eating patterns among adolescents. Restrained eating refers to deliberate attempts to limit food intake often triggered by concerns about body weight and shape. This behavioral tendency can be a precursor to more severe eating disorders, highlighting the clinical importance of understanding its antecedents. Importantly, the study elucidates that the mechanism driving restrained eating in this context is significantly influenced by body shame—a painful self-conscious emotion stemming from perceived inadequacies related to one’s physical appearance.

The methodology harnessed in this rigorous analysis combined quantitative surveys with advanced psychological assessments to capture a comprehensive profile of adolescent media use, emotional states, and behavioral responses. By evaluating patterns of short-form video engagement alongside self-reported measures of body image and eating control, the researchers isolated key predictors of restrained eating behavior. Their findings confirmed that adolescents who frequently consumed short-form videos were more likely to experience heightened body shame, which in turn increased the likelihood of engaging in restrictive eating practices.

Body shame, differentiated from generalized body dissatisfaction, is a particularly potent psychological construct that encapsulates feelings of worthlessness, exposure, and humiliation linked directly to one’s physical self. The pervasive circulation of idealized body types and aesthetic norms through short-form video content appears to amplify these deleterious self-evaluations. Adolescents, whose identities are still in flux and highly susceptible to external validation, may internalize these unrealistic standards, fostering an internal environment where shame and self-criticism flourish.

Crucially, the study also explored the moderating role of physical exercise in this nexus, an area often conflated with both positive health behaviors and compensatory mechanisms for body image concerns. While regular physical activity is widely acknowledged to promote physical and mental well-being, its interaction within the context of short-form video-induced body shame reveals a dual-edged sword. For some adolescents, physical exercise functions adaptively as a coping strategy that reduces body shame and mitigates restrained eating. Conversely, for others, exercise can morph into an excessive or compulsive practice driven by shame and dissatisfaction, further exacerbating disordered eating tendencies.

This duality underscores the complexity of adolescent responses to pervasive digital content surrounding appearance and physique. Physical exercise, when integrated into adolescents’ lifestyles mindfully and with emphasis on holistic health, may serve as a protective factor against the adverse psychological impacts of media exposure. However, when exercise is practiced as a form of punishment or control aligned with body shame, it risks reinforcing the cycle of restrictive eating and negative body image outcomes.

The implications of these findings extend far beyond the research setting, inviting educators, parents, healthcare professionals, and digital platform designers to reconsider the nature of adolescent media consumption and its regulation. With adolescents spending an increasing portion of their waking hours interacting with short-form video feeds, the potential for detrimental psychological effects, including eating-related psychopathologies, becomes a pressing public health concern. Tailored interventions that promote digital literacy, critical media consumption skills, and healthy body image cultivation emerge as essential components for safeguarding youth well-being.

Moreover, the research highlights the need for integrative approaches in therapeutic and preventive practices addressing adolescent eating disorders and body image distress. Incorporating strategies that recognize the impact of digital media and leverage physical exercise as a therapeutic tool could enhance outcomes. Clinicians should be trained to discern whether physical activity is functioning as a healthy coping mechanism or a maladaptive strategy tied to body shame and disordered eating.

On a broader societal level, this study prompts critical examination of the content algorithms that underpin short-form video platforms. These algorithms favor popular, visually engaging posts which often propagate narrow and idealized beauty standards. Activating discussions around ethical algorithm design, content moderation focused on mental health risks, and platform accountability might contribute to creating more supportive digital environments that do not exploit adolescent vulnerabilities.

Interestingly, the research also opens avenues to explore cultural differences in the manifestation of these phenomena. Body ideals and media engagement patterns vary widely across societies, and their interplay may differentially shape adolescent experiences globally. Future studies could expand the scope of inquiry by integrating cross-cultural perspectives, thereby refining the understanding of how socio-cultural contexts modulate the relationship between digital media use, body shame, exercise behaviors, and eating patterns.

In addition to revealing associations, Kong and colleagues’ work underscores critical questions about causality and temporal dynamics. Longitudinal studies are needed to unravel whether short-form video overuse precedes heightened body shame and restrained eating or if adolescents struggling with body image concerns are more drawn to such media. Understanding directionality could inform the timing and nature of interventions, potentially enabling preventative measures before maladaptive behaviors become entrenched.

The researchers also advocate for incorporating technological innovations in future assessments, such as digital phenotyping and passive data collection, to more precisely map media engagement patterns and their real-time psychological correlates. These methodologies could enhance ecological validity and provide richer insights into the everyday interplay of media use and adolescent mental health.

In summary, this pivotal study elucidates how the omnipresence of short-form video content in adolescents’ lives precipitates a complex chain of psychological events leading to restrained eating, significantly influenced by body shame and modulated by physical exercise. It delivers a clarion call to multiple stakeholders to address the silent but pervasive impact of digital media on youth health from a multifaceted perspective that integrates psychological theory, empirical research, and practical intervention.

As society continues to weave digital content deeply into the adolescent experience, understanding and mitigating the unintended consequences of these new media landscapes become imperative. Kong, Deng, Xiong et al.’s research not only enriches the scientific dialogue but also charts a critical course for future exploration, policy formulation, and the development of supportive infrastructures aimed at nurturing healthier, more resilient young generations in a digital age.

Subject of Research: The psychological impact of short-form video overuse on adolescents, focusing on restrained eating behaviors and the mediating roles of body shame and physical exercise.

Article Title: Short-form video overuse and adolescents’ restrained eating: the roles of body shame and physical exercise.

Article References:

Kong, X., Deng, M., Xiong, S. et al. short-form video overuse and adolescents’ restrained eating: the roles of body shame and physical exercise. BMC Psychol (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-03805-7

Image Credits: AI Generated