Is using TikTok stressful? Exploring the longitudinal relationships between adolescents' self‐concept clarity and digital stress.

  • Published In: Journal of Research on Adolescence (Wiley-Blackwell), 2025, v. 35, n. 1. P. 1 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Dodan, Daria; Negru‐Subtirica, Oana 3 of 3

Abstract

TikTok is a pervasive and controversial social media platform with a sizeable adolescent following. Using a two‐wave longitudinal design spaced 3 months apart during the academic year (N = 328, 60.4% male, Mage = 16.99), we investigated how adolescents' self‐concept clarity relates to approval anxiety, fear of missing out, and online vigilance as possible stressors experienced on TikTok. Results showed a negative bidirectional link between self‐concept clarity and approval anxiety. We also found a negative unidirectional longitudinal association between self‐concept clarity and fear of missing out (FoMO) and online vigilance, respectively. Last, we found that approval anxiety longitudinally fosters fear of missing out. These findings suggest that adolescents holding uncertain self‐views are more likely to perceive TikTok as a stressful environment and that experiencing approval anxiety might be especially harmful for them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Additional Information

  • Source:Journal of Research on Adolescence (Wiley-Blackwell). 2025/03, Vol. 35, Issue 1, p1
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Psychology
  • Publication Date:2025
  • ISSN:1050-8392
  • DOI:10.1111/jora.70011
  • Accession Number:184107006
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of Journal of Research on Adolescence (Wiley-Blackwell) is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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