16.5% of respondents are classified as “having severely problematic news consumption”
âProblematic news consumptionâ â which experts have likened to addiction â is linked to both poor mental well being as well as physical health, researchers have found.
According to the study, published Wednesday by the journal for Health Communications, results âshow greater mental and physical ill-being among those with higher levels of problematic news consumption compared to those with lower levels.â
The study identifies problematic news consumption as âemerging from a constant state of high alert and as being indulged to alleviate emotional distressâ with the understanding that media consumption might âbring relief from obsessive thoughts.â Some scholars classify problematic media behaviors and consumption as a form of addiction, while others note that, unlike other forms of addiction, âmedia addictionsâ rarely lead to âsevere life consequences.â