Research Article
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Deprem Korkusu ile Mental İyi Oluş Arasındaki İlişkide Doomscrolling'in Aracı Rolünün İncelenmesi

Year 2025, Issue: 58, 39 - 47, 08.09.2025
https://doi.org/10.33418/education.1673877

Abstract

Bu çalışmada, yetişkin bireylerde deprem korkusu ile mental iyi oluş arasındaki ilişkide doomscrolling davranışının aracı rolü incelenmiştir. Deprem korkusunun belirsizlik ve kaygıyı artırarak doomscrolling davranışını tetiklediği, bunun da mental iyi oluşu olumsuz etkilediği öngörülmektedir. Dijital medya kullanımının afet sonrası psikolojik etkilerle bağlantılı olabilir ve doomscrolling davranışı bireylerin iyi oluşunu olumsuz etkileyebilir. Bu kapsamda, yaş ortalaması 22.44 olan toplam 378 yetişkin katılımcı ile bu araştırma gerçekleştirilmiştir. Çalışma kapsamında Deprem Korkusu Ölçeği, Doomscrolling Ölçeği ve Warwick-Edinburgh Mental İyi Oluş Ölçeği kullanılmıştır. Araştırma verileri çevrim içi şekilde toplanmıştır. Verilerin analizi yapısal eşitlik modellemesi kullanılarak gerçekleştirilmiştir. Ayrıca, aracı değişkenin anlamlılığı için bootstrapping yönteminden faydalanılmıştır. Korelasyon analizinde deprem korkusunun mental iyi oluş ile negatif ve doomscrolling ile pozitif yönde anlamlı ilişkili olduğu saptanmıştır. Ek olarak, doomscrolling ile mental iyi oluş arasındaki ilişki negatif yönde anlamlıdır. Yapısal eşitlik modellemesinde ise doomscrollingin deprem korkusu ile mental iyi oluş arasındaki ilişkide tam aracı rol oynadığı belirlenmiştir. Araştırma, deprem korkusunun bireyleri doomscrolling davranışına yönlendirdiğini ve bunun mental iyi oluşu olumsuz etkilediğini ortaya koymaktadır. Elde edilen bulgular, afet dönemlerinde bilinçli medya kullanımına yönelik müdahale programlarının geliştirilmesi gerektiğini göstermektedir. Özellikle kriz anlarında dijital medya tüketiminin düzenlenmesi bireylerin iyilik halini artırmada önemli bir strateji olabilir.

References

  • Ahorsu, D. K., Lin, C. Y., Imani, V., Saffari, M., Griffiths, M. D., & Pakpour, A. H. (2022). The Fear of COVID-19 Scale: Development and initial validation. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 20(3), 1537–1545. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-020-00270-8
  • Bonanno, G. A., Galea, S., Bucciarelli, A., & Vlahov, D. (2007). What predicts psychological resilience after disaster? The role of demographics, resources, and life stress. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 75(5), 671–682. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.75.5.671
  • Buchanan, K., Aknin, L. B., Lotun, S., & Sandstrom, G. M. (2021). Brief exposure to social media during the COVID-19 pandemic: Doom-scrolling has negative emotional consequences, but kindness-scrolling does not. PLOS ONE, 16(10), e0257728. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0257728
  • Demirtaş, A. S., & Baytemir, K. (2019). Adaptation of Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale Short Form into Turkish: Validity and reliability study. Electronic Journal of Social Sciences, 18(70), 689–701. https://doi.org/10.17755/esosder.432708
  • Fredrickson, B. L., Tugade, M. M., Waugh, C. E., & Larkin, G. R. (2003). What good are positive emotions in crises? A prospective study of resilience and emotions following the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11th, 2001. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84(2), 365–376. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.84.2.365
  • Kaya, B., & Griffiths, M. D. (2024). Intolerance of uncertainty and mental wellbeing: The mediating and moderating role of doomscrolling. Behaviour & Information Technology, Advance online publication. 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1080/0144929X.2024.2314747
  • Kaya, Y., Osmanoğlu, N., Satıcı, S. A., & Deniz, M. E. (2024). Self-compassion and death distress among individuals affected by the February 6, 2023, Türkiye Earthquake: The mediating role of doomscrolling and resilience. Journal of Health Psychology, 13591053241282129. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/13591053241282129
  • Keldal, G. (2015). Turkish Form of Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale: Validity and Reliability Study. The Journal of Happiness & Well-Being, 3(1), 103–115.
  • Khachadourian, V., Armenian, H., Demirchyan, A., Melkonian, A., & Hovanesian, A. (2016). A post-earthquake psychopathological investigation in Armenia: Methodology, summary of findings, and follow-up. Disasters, 40(3), 518–533. https://doi.org/10.1111/disa.12166
  • Kiye, S., Doğan, B. G., & Coşkun, F. (2024). Latent profile analysis of earthquake victims: doomscrolling, psychological well-being, emotion regulation and resilience. Current Psychology, 43, 33867-33877 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-024-06904-7
  • Nakajima, Ş. (2012). Post-earthquake psychology. Okmeydanı Medical Journal, 28(2), 150–155. https://doi.org/10.5222/otd.supp2.2012.150
  • Nguyen, A., Smith, A., Jackson, D., & Zhao, X. (2021). Pandemic news experience: COVID-19, news consumption, mental health, and the demand for positive news. Mental Health, and the Demand for Positive News. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3833891
  • Norris, F. H., Friedman, M. J., Watson, P. J., Byrne, C. M., Diaz, E., & Kaniasty, K. (2002). 60,000 disaster victims speak: Part I. An empirical review of the empirical literature, 1981–2001. Psychiatry: Interpersonal and Biological Processes, 65(3), 207–239. https://doi.org/10.1521/psyc.65.3.207.20173
  • Okur, S., Aktepe, Z. G., Yılmaz, F. B., Kütük, H., & Satıcı, S. A., (2024). Earthquake fear and flourishing: serial mediation of meaningful living and psychological adjustment. Environmental Hazards, Advance online publication. 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1080/17477891.2024.2354784
  • O’Toole, V. M. (2017). ‘Fear would well up and it was just a luxury that you just didn’t have time for’: Teachers’ emotion regulation strategies at school during the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake. Social Psychology of Education, 20, 513–542. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11218-017-9383-0
  • Öksüz, H., Ertural, H., Çini, A., Satıcı, S. A., & Deniz, M. E. (2023). Psychological adjustment and wellbeing after an earthquake: The serial mediating role of doomscrolling and emotional regulation difficulty. Authorea, July 11, 2023. https://doi.org/10.22541/au.168907683.38496268/v1
  • Prati, G., Catufi, V., & Pietrantoni, L. (2012). Emotional and behavioural reactions to tremors of the Umbria-Marche earthquake. Disasters, 36(3), 439–451. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.14677717.2011.01264.x
  • Prizmić-Larsen, Z., Vujčić, M. T., & Lipovčan, L. K. (2023). Fear of COVID-19 and Fear of Earthquake: Multiple distressing events and well-being in Croatia. Psychological Reports, 128(2), 435–456. https://doi.org/10.1177/00332941231156813
  • Rowney, C., Farvid, P., & Sibley, C. G. (2014). "I laugh and say I have ‘earthquake brain!’": Resident responses to the September 2010 Christchurch earthquake. New Zealand Journal of Psychology, 43(2), 4–13.
  • Ryff, C. D., & Singer, B. H. (2008). Know thyself and become what you are: A eudaimonic approach to psychological well-being. Journal of Happiness Studies, 9(1), 13–39. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-006-9019-0
  • Salcıoğlu, E., Özden, S., & Ari, F. (2018). The role of relocation patterns and psychosocial stressors in posttraumatic stress disorder and depression among earthquake survivors. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 206(1), 19–26. https://doi.org/10.1097/NMD.0000000000000627
  • Satıcı, S. A., Okur, S., Deniz, M. E., Karaağaç, Z. G., Yılmaz, F. B., Kütük, H., Satıcı, B., & Kaya, Y. (2024). The development and initial validation of the Earthquake Fear Scale: Its links to personality traits, psychological distress, harmony in life, and mental wellbeing. Stress and Health, 40(2), e3306. https://doi.org/10.1002/smi.3306
  • Satıcı, S. A., Gocet Tekin, E., Deniz, M. E., & Taşkın, S. (2023). Doomscrolling Scale: Its association with personality traits, psychological distress, social media use, and wellbeing. Applied Research in Quality of Life, 18, 833–847. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-022-10110-7
  • Sümer, N., Karanci, A. N., Berument, S. K., & Gunes, H. (2005). Personal resources, coping self-efficacy, and quake exposure as predictors of psychological distress following the 1999 earthquake in Turkey. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 18(4), 331–342. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.20032
  • Taşkın, S., Yıldırım Kurtuluş, H., Satıcı, S. A., & Deniz, M. E. (2024). Doomscrolling and mental well‐being in social media users: A serial mediation through mindfulness and secondary traumatic stress. Journal of Community Psychology, 52(3), 512–524. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.23111
  • Tennant, R., Hiller, L., Fishwick, R., et al. (2007). The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS): Development and UK validation. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 5, 63. https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7525-5-63
  • Terpstra T. (2011). Emotions, trust, and perceived risk: affective and cognitive routes to flood preparedness behavior. Risk Analysis, 31(10), 1658–1675. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1539-6924.2011.01616.x
  • Türk-Kurtça, T., & Kocatürk, M. (2025). Beyond the scroll: exploring how intolerance of uncertainty and psychological resilience explain the association between trait anxiety and doomscrolling. Personality and Individual Differences, 233, 112919. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2024.112919
  • Ytre-Arne, B., & Moe, H. (2021). Doomscrolling, monitoring and avoiding: News use in COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. Journalism Studies, 22(13), 1739–1755. https://doi.org/10.1080/1461670X.2021.1952475

Examining the Mediating Role of Doomscrolling in the Association between Earthquake Fear and Mental Well-being

Year 2025, Issue: 58, 39 - 47, 08.09.2025
https://doi.org/10.33418/education.1673877

Abstract

This study examines the mediating role of doomscrolling behavior in the relationship between earthquake fear and mental well-being among adults. It is hypothesized that earthquake fear increases uncertainty and anxiety, triggering doomscrolling behavior, which in turn negatively affects mental well-being. Digital media use may be interrelated with psychological effects following disasters, and doomscrolling behavior can have a detrimental impact on individuals' well-being. In this context, the study was conducted with a total of 378 adult participants (313 female, 82.8%; 65 male, 17.2%), with a mean age of 22.44 (SD = 5.45). The Earthquake Fear Scale, Doomscrolling Scale, and Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale were conducted in the study. The research data were collected online, and the analysis was carried out using structural equation modeling (SEM). Additionally, the bootstrapping method was employed to test the significance of the mediating variable. Correlation analysis revealed that earthquake fear was significantly and negatively associated with mental well-being and positively associated with doomscrolling. Furthermore, the relationship between doomscrolling and mental well-being was found to be significantly negative. Structural equation modeling confirmed that doomscrolling played a full mediating role in the relationship between earthquake fear and mental well-being. The study demonstrates that earthquake fear leads individuals to engage in doomscrolling behavior, which in turn negatively impacts their mental well-being. The findings highlight the need for intervention programs promoting mindful media consumption during disaster periods. Regulating digital media consumption during crises may serve as a crucial strategy for enhancing individuals' well-being.

Ethical Statement

The ethics committee approval for this research was obtained from the National Defense University Social and Human Sciences Ethics Committee with the letter numbered E-35592990-050.04-4566311 dated March 7, 2025. In addition, the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and subsequent updates were adhered to throughout the research.

References

  • Ahorsu, D. K., Lin, C. Y., Imani, V., Saffari, M., Griffiths, M. D., & Pakpour, A. H. (2022). The Fear of COVID-19 Scale: Development and initial validation. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 20(3), 1537–1545. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-020-00270-8
  • Bonanno, G. A., Galea, S., Bucciarelli, A., & Vlahov, D. (2007). What predicts psychological resilience after disaster? The role of demographics, resources, and life stress. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 75(5), 671–682. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.75.5.671
  • Buchanan, K., Aknin, L. B., Lotun, S., & Sandstrom, G. M. (2021). Brief exposure to social media during the COVID-19 pandemic: Doom-scrolling has negative emotional consequences, but kindness-scrolling does not. PLOS ONE, 16(10), e0257728. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0257728
  • Demirtaş, A. S., & Baytemir, K. (2019). Adaptation of Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale Short Form into Turkish: Validity and reliability study. Electronic Journal of Social Sciences, 18(70), 689–701. https://doi.org/10.17755/esosder.432708
  • Fredrickson, B. L., Tugade, M. M., Waugh, C. E., & Larkin, G. R. (2003). What good are positive emotions in crises? A prospective study of resilience and emotions following the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11th, 2001. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84(2), 365–376. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.84.2.365
  • Kaya, B., & Griffiths, M. D. (2024). Intolerance of uncertainty and mental wellbeing: The mediating and moderating role of doomscrolling. Behaviour & Information Technology, Advance online publication. 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1080/0144929X.2024.2314747
  • Kaya, Y., Osmanoğlu, N., Satıcı, S. A., & Deniz, M. E. (2024). Self-compassion and death distress among individuals affected by the February 6, 2023, Türkiye Earthquake: The mediating role of doomscrolling and resilience. Journal of Health Psychology, 13591053241282129. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/13591053241282129
  • Keldal, G. (2015). Turkish Form of Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale: Validity and Reliability Study. The Journal of Happiness & Well-Being, 3(1), 103–115.
  • Khachadourian, V., Armenian, H., Demirchyan, A., Melkonian, A., & Hovanesian, A. (2016). A post-earthquake psychopathological investigation in Armenia: Methodology, summary of findings, and follow-up. Disasters, 40(3), 518–533. https://doi.org/10.1111/disa.12166
  • Kiye, S., Doğan, B. G., & Coşkun, F. (2024). Latent profile analysis of earthquake victims: doomscrolling, psychological well-being, emotion regulation and resilience. Current Psychology, 43, 33867-33877 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-024-06904-7
  • Nakajima, Ş. (2012). Post-earthquake psychology. Okmeydanı Medical Journal, 28(2), 150–155. https://doi.org/10.5222/otd.supp2.2012.150
  • Nguyen, A., Smith, A., Jackson, D., & Zhao, X. (2021). Pandemic news experience: COVID-19, news consumption, mental health, and the demand for positive news. Mental Health, and the Demand for Positive News. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3833891
  • Norris, F. H., Friedman, M. J., Watson, P. J., Byrne, C. M., Diaz, E., & Kaniasty, K. (2002). 60,000 disaster victims speak: Part I. An empirical review of the empirical literature, 1981–2001. Psychiatry: Interpersonal and Biological Processes, 65(3), 207–239. https://doi.org/10.1521/psyc.65.3.207.20173
  • Okur, S., Aktepe, Z. G., Yılmaz, F. B., Kütük, H., & Satıcı, S. A., (2024). Earthquake fear and flourishing: serial mediation of meaningful living and psychological adjustment. Environmental Hazards, Advance online publication. 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1080/17477891.2024.2354784
  • O’Toole, V. M. (2017). ‘Fear would well up and it was just a luxury that you just didn’t have time for’: Teachers’ emotion regulation strategies at school during the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake. Social Psychology of Education, 20, 513–542. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11218-017-9383-0
  • Öksüz, H., Ertural, H., Çini, A., Satıcı, S. A., & Deniz, M. E. (2023). Psychological adjustment and wellbeing after an earthquake: The serial mediating role of doomscrolling and emotional regulation difficulty. Authorea, July 11, 2023. https://doi.org/10.22541/au.168907683.38496268/v1
  • Prati, G., Catufi, V., & Pietrantoni, L. (2012). Emotional and behavioural reactions to tremors of the Umbria-Marche earthquake. Disasters, 36(3), 439–451. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.14677717.2011.01264.x
  • Prizmić-Larsen, Z., Vujčić, M. T., & Lipovčan, L. K. (2023). Fear of COVID-19 and Fear of Earthquake: Multiple distressing events and well-being in Croatia. Psychological Reports, 128(2), 435–456. https://doi.org/10.1177/00332941231156813
  • Rowney, C., Farvid, P., & Sibley, C. G. (2014). "I laugh and say I have ‘earthquake brain!’": Resident responses to the September 2010 Christchurch earthquake. New Zealand Journal of Psychology, 43(2), 4–13.
  • Ryff, C. D., & Singer, B. H. (2008). Know thyself and become what you are: A eudaimonic approach to psychological well-being. Journal of Happiness Studies, 9(1), 13–39. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-006-9019-0
  • Salcıoğlu, E., Özden, S., & Ari, F. (2018). The role of relocation patterns and psychosocial stressors in posttraumatic stress disorder and depression among earthquake survivors. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 206(1), 19–26. https://doi.org/10.1097/NMD.0000000000000627
  • Satıcı, S. A., Okur, S., Deniz, M. E., Karaağaç, Z. G., Yılmaz, F. B., Kütük, H., Satıcı, B., & Kaya, Y. (2024). The development and initial validation of the Earthquake Fear Scale: Its links to personality traits, psychological distress, harmony in life, and mental wellbeing. Stress and Health, 40(2), e3306. https://doi.org/10.1002/smi.3306
  • Satıcı, S. A., Gocet Tekin, E., Deniz, M. E., & Taşkın, S. (2023). Doomscrolling Scale: Its association with personality traits, psychological distress, social media use, and wellbeing. Applied Research in Quality of Life, 18, 833–847. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-022-10110-7
  • Sümer, N., Karanci, A. N., Berument, S. K., & Gunes, H. (2005). Personal resources, coping self-efficacy, and quake exposure as predictors of psychological distress following the 1999 earthquake in Turkey. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 18(4), 331–342. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.20032
  • Taşkın, S., Yıldırım Kurtuluş, H., Satıcı, S. A., & Deniz, M. E. (2024). Doomscrolling and mental well‐being in social media users: A serial mediation through mindfulness and secondary traumatic stress. Journal of Community Psychology, 52(3), 512–524. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.23111
  • Tennant, R., Hiller, L., Fishwick, R., et al. (2007). The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS): Development and UK validation. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 5, 63. https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7525-5-63
  • Terpstra T. (2011). Emotions, trust, and perceived risk: affective and cognitive routes to flood preparedness behavior. Risk Analysis, 31(10), 1658–1675. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1539-6924.2011.01616.x
  • Türk-Kurtça, T., & Kocatürk, M. (2025). Beyond the scroll: exploring how intolerance of uncertainty and psychological resilience explain the association between trait anxiety and doomscrolling. Personality and Individual Differences, 233, 112919. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2024.112919
  • Ytre-Arne, B., & Moe, H. (2021). Doomscrolling, monitoring and avoiding: News use in COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. Journalism Studies, 22(13), 1739–1755. https://doi.org/10.1080/1461670X.2021.1952475
There are 29 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Other Fields of Education (Other)
Journal Section Research Articles
Authors

Sinan Okur 0000-0002-3439-5907

Early Pub Date July 22, 2025
Publication Date September 8, 2025
Submission Date April 11, 2025
Acceptance Date July 11, 2025
Published in Issue Year 2025 Issue: 58

Cite

APA Okur, S. (2025). Examining the Mediating Role of Doomscrolling in the Association between Earthquake Fear and Mental Well-being. Educational Academic Research(58), 39-47. https://doi.org/10.33418/education.1673877

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