Emerging evidence on doomscrolling: A scoping review of empirical studies

Görkem Avcı; Magdalini Vampa; Inda Kreso; Mohammadhossein Homaei; Octa Pratama Putra

doi:10.29329/jsomer.102

Authors

Görkem Avcı Bartın University, Türkiye https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4489-1613
Magdalini Vampa Fan S. Noli University, Albania https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3744-1048
Inda Kreso University of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5556-4669
Mohammadhossein Homaei Universidad de Extremadura, Spain https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6108-6632
Octa Pratama Putra University of Bina Sarana Informatika, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0009-0009-3340-7310

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29329/jsomer.102

Keywords:

Doomscrolling, Scoping review, Digital media behavior, Social media, Digital well-being

Abstract

This scoping review maps the scope, characteristics, and emerging patterns of empirical research on doomscrolling. Guided by PRISMA-ScR recommendations, searches were conducted in Scopus and Web of Science, and 50 empirical studies met the inclusion criteria. The findings indicate that doomscrolling is generally conceptualized as repetitive, prolonged, and difficult-to-stop consumption of negative digital news, often driven by uncertainty, informational needs, and emotional discomfort. Research on doomscrolling has expanded rapidly since 2020, with a focus on pandemic-related contexts and growing attention to climate change, natural disasters, geopolitical conflicts, and other crises. Methodologically, the field is dominated by cross-sectional quantitative studies, while longitudinal, experimental, qualitative, and intervention-oriented studies remain limited. Across the reviewed studies, doomscrolling was frequently associated with adverse psychological outcomes, including anxiety, depression, stress, psychological distress, and reduced well-being. Emerging evidence also suggests social and occupational implications, including distraction, reduced productivity, and altered risk perceptions. Key individual-level factors associated with doomscrolling include fear of missing out, intolerance of uncertainty, emotional vulnerability, and low self-regulation. Despite growing scholarly interest, the literature remains fragmented in terms of definitions, measurement tools, research designs, and contextual coverage. This review highlights the need for standardized, cross-culturally validated measures; broader populations and crisis contexts; and stronger longitudinal, experimental, and intervention-based evidence. Overall, the findings position doomscrolling as a multidimensional phenomenon at the intersection of digital media use, crisis communication, and mental health, with important implications for future interdisciplinary research and digital well-being initiatives.

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