Research on the Mechanisms of Information Overload and Information Avoidance Behavior in College Students with Psychological Disorders in the Context of Social Media

Research on the Mechanisms of Information Overload and Information Avoidance Behavior in College Students with Psychological Disorders in the Context of Social Media | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Research on the Mechanisms of Information Overload and Information Avoidance Behavior in College Students with Psychological Disorders in the Context of Social Media Linlin Wang, Wanyu Huang, Fang Tang, Shengnan Ruan, Qingjie Peng, and 8 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3909071/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Background: The rapid expansion of social media has given rise to a myriad of challenges among college students facing psychological distress. An abundance of fragmented and repetitive information, often referred to as information overload, inundates users on social media platforms. This inundation presents significant hurdles for college students experiencing psychological distress when acquiring and processing information. This study investigates the associative mechanisms between information overload in the context of social media and information avoidance behaviors among college students experiencing psychological distress. Methods: From May to November 2023, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 college students experiencing psychological distress in a prefecture-level city in Henan Province, China, to collect textual data. Grounded theory was employed to conduct three-level coding of the 30 sets of textual data. Special emphasis was placed on analyzing the process of perceiving social media information overload. Subsequently, this analysis served as the foundation for constructing a factor model influencing information avoidance behaviors among college students experiencing psychological distress. Results: The study findings indicate that, within the context of social media, college students experiencing psychological distress are prone to prolonged exposure to information overload, leading to the development of negative emotions such as anxiety and fatigue, subsequently resulting in dissatisfaction with social media. In order to alleviate these negative emotions, they employ information avoidance strategies. These strategies evolve from initially skipping or skimming information to eventually directly avoiding or even discontinuing the use of specific social media platforms. This process is not only closely linked to negative emotions but is also influenced by negative cognitive tendencies. Coupled with the role of virtual social satisfaction and social scarcity, it easily triggers social comparisons and the fear of missing out, resulting in a cyclic impact. Conclusions: Within the context of social media, information overload and information avoidance behaviors among college students experiencing psychological distress are subject to a cyclic influence stemming from negative emotions, negative cognitive tendencies, virtual social satisfaction and social scarcity, social comparisons, and the fear of missing out. This study explores the mechanisms underlying the impact of information overload and information avoidance behaviors among college students experiencing psychological distress within the context of social media. It offers valuable insights for the prevention and intervention of psychological crises among college students. Social media Information overload Information avoidance༛College students in psychological distress༛Grounded theory Figures Figure 1 Background Revision: Social media has unquestionably established itself as the fastest and most convenient online platform for information retrieval and the dissemination of specific subjects [ 1 ] . As of June 2023, the number of internet users in China had soared to an astonishing 1.079 billion [ 2 ] , with the adoption of social media showing no signs of slowing down. Simultaneously, the issue of information overload has become increasingly pronounced. Information overload refers to a situation in which the volume of information exceeds an individual's capacity for information processing [ 3 ] , resulting in psychological stress [ 4 ] , negative emotions [ 5 ] , symptoms of depression, and feelings of anxiety [ 6 ] . Revision: In recent years, there has been a significant surge in research focusing on information overload within the context of social media, particularly concerning user psychology and information behavior. While social media has undoubtedly enhanced the convenience of communication within pre-existing offline relationships, it has also unintentionally introduced stress, feelings of disconnection, and loneliness, along with other negative emotions [ 7 ] . Research has elucidated that information overload tends to manifest when recipients lack sufficient background knowledge to effectively process the influx of information they receive [ 8 ] , thereby giving rise to a myriad of adverse emotional experiences among users [ 9 ] . Additionally, studies have consistently shown that information overload often leads to prolonged states of anxiety in individuals [ 10 ] . During episodes of information overload, users become more susceptible to experiencing stress, difficulties in keeping pace with unfolding events, and even feelings of confusion and self-doubt, ultimately impacting their physical and psychological well-being [ 11 ] . Information avoidance refers to an individual's tendency to postpone the acquisition of potentially undesirable information, a prevalent negative response [ 12 ] . For example, research conducted by Howell et al. [ 13 ] revealed that individuals are inclined to avoid certain information when comprehending it would necessitate actions they are unwilling to take. X. Li et al. [ 14 ] have proposed that factors like the relevance of advertisements, information overload, and breaches of common language may influence users' proclivity to steer clear of advertising content. In an analysis conducted by Link E [ 15 ] , it was observed that individuals tend to avoid information more frequently on websites and social media platforms, in contrast to mainstream communication channels. Furthermore, information avoidance is recognized as an effective strategy for managing risks and alleviating negative emotions [ 16 ] . Soroya et al. [ 17 ] s that information overload stemming from an excessive number of information sources exacerbates information-related anxiety, causing users to transition from actively seeking health-related information to avoidance behaviors. Additionally, scholars investigating information avoidance behaviors in the realm of social media have emphasized that information overload serves as a primary catalyst for information avoidance [ 18 ] . Furthermore, research indicates that negative emotions act as triggers for users to engage in information avoidance behaviors [ 19 ] . Over the past decade, there has been a notable increase in the prevalence of psychological distress among university students [ 20 – 23 ] . It is worth noting that many of these students, grappling with these negative emotions, often hesitate to seek help, remain silent, and lack effective strategies to address their mental health issues. This hesitation can result in delayed treatment and, in some cases, even contribute to suicidal tendencies [ 24 ] . Prolonged negative emotions can also lead psychologically distressed university students to misinterpret information, fostering pessimism and exacerbating their mental health challenges. Research has pointed to a connection between social media usage and adverse psychological outcomes [ 17 ] . For instance, a study by Swar et al. [ 6 ] identified a significant positive correlation between perceived information overload and the development of psychological disorders. Additionally, investigations have proposed that both social overload and information overload might drive users toward information avoidance behaviors on social media platforms [ 25 ] . Given the escalating volume of information and the growing uncertainty surrounding its quality, it becomes imperative to explore whether psychologically distressed university students frequently resort to information avoidance behaviors. Such an exploration can provide valuable insights into the psychological reactions and mechanisms underlying these behaviors. In summary, to enhance our comprehension of the intricate connection between information overload and information avoidance behaviors among college students grappling with psychological distress in the realm of social media, this study employs Grounded Theory to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the primary influencing factors and underlying mechanisms. By doing so, this research not only deepens our understanding of the overwhelming information-related challenges confronting psychologically distressed college students but also facilitates the development of more pragmatic and efficient psychological support and intervention measures tailored to their specific needs. Methods Study Approach This study utilizes Charmaz's constructivist grounded theory [ 26 , 27 ] , a qualitative research approach aimed at exploring social interactions and experiences to develop theories grounded in data [ 28 ] . The primary objective of this research is to delve into the mechanisms by which information overload within the realm of social media influences information avoidance behaviors among college students who are experiencing psychological distress. To achieve this objective, grounded theory serves as the chosen research methodology for the systematic extraction of influencing factors. Through the application of grounded theory, our aim is to investigate the associative mechanisms between information overload within the context of social media and information avoidance behaviors among college students facing psychological distress, thus facilitating a deeper comprehension of the underlying causes and impact pathways of this phenomenon. Ethical Considerations Approval for this study has been granted by the Ethics Committee of Xinyang Normal University (Study ID: XFEC-2023-020). Recruitment Between May and December 2023, we conducted interviews with undergraduate students selected from a specific location. We identified 30 students of particular interest based on a psychological survey conducted during their university enrollment and subsequently conducted in-depth interviews with them. The inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) Participants must be full-time undergraduate students; (2) They must have prior experience using social media platforms; (3) Voluntary participation in the study was required; (4) Positive indications of anxiety, depression, or suicidal thoughts in the university's psychological survey. Exclusion criteria included: (1) The presence of language communication barriers; (2) Prior receipt of psychological counseling, therapy, or intervention; (3) Current usage of psychiatric medications. During the initial phases of the study, purposive sampling was employed, and this process continued until no new factors affecting the participants' cognitive understanding and judgments of short video information interactions emerged. At this point, we considered that theoretical saturation had essentially been reached [ 29 ] . Data Collection This study employed a one-on-one, semi-structured interview approach, complemented by field notes and observational methods for data collection. The interviews encompassed the following key areas: (1) What types of information do you typically search for on the internet, and how do you go about acquiring it (including methods and sources)? (2) Do you encounter information overload on the internet during your search process? (3) Does internet information overload hinder your ability to find valuable information? When you come across conflicting information, does it cause confusion or exacerbate your anxiety and emotions? (4) Does internet information overload worsen your existing concerns, and does it have any impact on you, be it psychological, in your daily life, or in your studies? (5) When you perceive information overload, what coping strategies do you employ, and do you find them effective? Subsequently, a comprehensive analysis of all the collected data was undertaken to ensure the accuracy of the data analysis process. In this study, the duration of each interview with participants ranged from 20 to 35 minutes, with an average duration of 24 minutes. The total transcribed word count exceeded 41,000 words. Data Analysis The data analysis process employed a research approach based on Constructivist Grounded Theory [ 20 ] . It commenced with open coding, the initial step in the Grounded Theory process, resulting in a total of 367 raw statements and concepts, which were subsequently condensed into 57 concepts. Following this, axial coding was applied, leading to the formation of 19 core categories. Subsequently, selective coding was conducted at a higher level of abstraction following axial coding, eventually leading to the identification of 7 core categories: negative emotions, negative cognitive tendencies, virtual social satisfaction and social scarcity, social comparisons, fear of missing out, information overload, and information avoidance. Building upon these influencing factors, a comprehensive model was constructed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying information avoidance behaviors among college students experiencing psychological distress within the context of social media. For specific coding details, please refer to Appendix 1. Results Participant Characteristics The ultimate sample for this study comprised 30 college students who were experiencing psychological distress. Their average age was 20 years, consisting of 24 females and 6 males. Table 1 for details. Table 1 General Information of Interviewees(n = 30) Number Gender Age Place origin Duration of Social Media Usage(years) Have you experienced information overload? Is there distress after perceiving information overload? Whether to adopt information avoidance behavior N1 female 21 county seat 5–6 True True True N2 female 20 countryside 5 True True True N3 female 20 city 3–4 True True True N4 female 19 countryside 3 True True True N5 female 20 countryside 3–4 True True True N6 female 18 countryside 6–7 False True True N7 male 19 county seat 7–8 True True True N8 female 20 countryside 4–5 True True True N9 female 18 city 1–2 True True True N10 male 19 countryside 5 True True True N11 female 20 city 2 True True True N12 female 20 county seat 7–8 True True True N13 female 21 city 3 True True True N14 female 21 countryside 6 True True True N15 female 21 city 6–7 True True True N16 male 22 countryside 5 True True True N17 female 21 countryside 3–4 True True True N18 female 19 countryside 5 True True True N19 female 22 countryside 5–6 True True True N20 female 21 countryside 5 True True True N21 male 22 countryside 6–7 True True True N22 female 20 countryside 3–4 True True True N23 female 19 country seat 3 True True True N24 female 21 countryside 4 True True True N25 male 20 countryside 5 True True True N26 female 19 countryside 3 True True True N27 female 22 country seat 3–4 True True True N28 female 21 countryside 3 True True True N29 male 22 countryside 5 True True True N30 female 20 city 3–4 True True True Development of a Model for the Mechanisms of Information Avoidance Behavior among College Students Experiencing Psychological Distress in the Context of Social Media Information Overload This study utilized a three-level coding approach rooted in Grounded Theory. Focusing on the cognitive process of perceiving social media information overload, it conducted a detailed analysis and developed a model highlighting the factors influencing information avoidance behaviors among college students experiencing psychological distress. These influencing factors were classified into five categories: negative emotions, negative cognitive tendencies, virtual social satisfaction and social scarcity, social comparison, and the fear of missing out. These five aspects are intricately linked to information avoidance behaviors. A visual representation of these aspects can be found in Fig. 1 . Perceiving Information Overload on Social Media The perception of information overload on social media acts as an indirect influencing factor on information avoidance behaviors among college students experiencing psychological distress. These students are at a stage of adolescence characterized by limited life and social experiences, making them particularly susceptible to various external environmental stimuli and influences. When college students facing psychological distress perceive information overload on social media, it tends to trigger the emergence of negative emotions, negative cognitive tendencies, virtual social satisfaction, social scarcity, and the fear of missing out, ultimately leading to information avoidance behaviors. In this study, information overload is categorized into three specific domains: system characteristics, information characteristics, and usage characteristics. System Characteristics System characteristics encompass the distinctive features and functionalities inherent to social media platforms, which exert significant influence over aspects such as information retrieval, dissemination, social interaction, and user experience. These system characteristics exhibit a close association with negative emotions, negative cognitive tendencies, and upward social comparisons. Psychologically distressed college students, marked by introverted and pessimistic traits, are more susceptible to the influence of negative information when using social media. They encounter difficulties in effectively processing information, resulting in a perception of information overload and subsequent information avoidance behaviors. The multifaceted interactive features of social media platforms frequently entice psychologically distressed college students to engage in online social interactions. This inclination leads to continuous monitoring of others' content, fostering upward social comparisons and heightened negative emotions. The sheer volume of information on social media and the intensive push services surpass the limited information reception and processing capacity of psychologically distressed college students [ 25 ] . Consequently, they grapple with the challenge of managing the abundance of fragmented and repetitive information, thereby increasing the risk of psychological distress. Additionally, concerns related to privacy emerge due to the frequent push of information and personalized advertising on social media platforms, subsequently leading to information avoidance behaviors [ 30 , 31 ] . The intricate functionalities and settings inherent to social media platforms heighten the cognitive burden, reducing user-friendliness, and contributing to negative emotions among psychologically distressed college students.Furthermore, the frequent expansion and updates of system functionalities by social media operators necessitate that users stay informed about numerous new features. This complexity adds to the challenge of organizing information and exacerbates information overload. [ 32 ] . I feel really frustrated when there's just too much of this stuff, and then I don't want to look at it (N5). There are just so many annoying ads, and it's a bit hard to find what I want (N19). Because there's so much information, it's difficult to make a selection (28). I liked using a social media platform, but they kept updating the system, which was annoying. The original version was much better. In the end, I uninstalled it (4). Information Characteristics Information characteristics pertain to the attributes and features exhibited by the information accessible to users on social media platforms. These characteristics are intricately linked to negative emotions and negative cognitive tendencies. Research has revealed that, while social media offers convenience for individual communication, it also inundates users with a vast amount of information. When information surpasses a "critical point," it induces privacy fatigue, characterized by a state of negative exhaustion [ 33 ] . Given the prevalence of irrational, emotional, and extreme discourse on social media, college students experiencing psychological distress frequently manifest anxiety. Prior research has established that individuals with high trait anxiety, when exposed to information related to threats, experience impaired information processing abilities due to anxiety, rendering them more susceptible to perceiving information overload [ 34 ] . Furthermore, their lack of self-confidence in their abilities, coupled with the profusion of information on social media, makes it challenging for them to effectively filter and accurately discern the veracity of information. This, in turn, increases cognitive burdens and leads to information avoidance behaviors. College students experiencing psychological distress frequently articulate that the volume of information and its repetitiveness often cause them to overlook genuinely valuable information during their searches. Moreover, the task of discerning the authenticity and usefulness of information consumes a substantial amount of time and energy, engendering intense feelings of frustration and agitation, ultimately culminating in information avoidance behaviors. When information conflicts, it indeed becomes perplexing and exacerbates my feelings of anxiety or irritability, which are not conducive emotions (N2). At times, there's just too much content, and it becomes challenging to differentiate (N10). The material I come across often appears repetitive, with some even conflicting with one another. It leaves me unsure of how to make choices. Sometimes, it becomes overwhelming, and I don't feel like browsing TikTok or checking out Xiaohongshu; I simply don't want to engage in anything (N14). Usage Characteristics Usage characteristics encompass distinct social media usage behaviors exhibited by users, primarily including usage intensity, usage experience, and the types of social media platforms used. These usage characteristics are intimately linked to negative cognitive tendencies, virtual social satisfaction, social scarcity, and the fear of missing out. College students experiencing psychological distress tend to engage with social media for extended durations and with high frequency. This heightened usage exposes them to a substantial volume of information, resulting in increased perceptions of information overload. The convenience and interactivity inherent in social media platforms have cultivated habits of overreliance among these college students, potentially impacting their academic performance and mental well-being, ultimately leading to feelings of depression and anxiety [ 35 , 36 ] . Due to factors such as introversion and pessimism, these students grapple with social scarcity in their offline lives. Consequently, they rely more heavily on virtual social satisfaction. Paradoxically, an excessive dependence on social media exacerbates their real-life social scarcity. Additionally, expectations regarding social media and the fear of missing out can disrupt sleep patterns [ 37 , 38 ] , leading to attention and sleep disturbances that, in turn, affect overall well-being. The utilization of multiple social media platforms amplifies the burden of information acquisition and processing, resulting in cognitive overload and information overload phenomena. College students experiencing psychological distress often turn to social media to seek information related to their studies and daily lives. However, they frequently encounter irrelevant content during these searches, necessitating the sifting through vast amounts of information to locate valuable portions. This dispersion of attention poses challenges to their ability to concentrate on their studies. When I encounter questions I don't know or need to look up something, I usually search online because it's convenient, but I often get a plethora of information in the search results, which can be overwhelming (N26). I spend a lot of time on social media every day, just scrolling through it when I have free time. However, it constantly pushes a lot of similar information to me, which can be quite annoying (N27). When I come across a problem, I search online for answers, but many times, the results can be confusing because there's too much to choose from (N9). For instance, I was thinking of buying a specific shampoo for long hair, and once I started looking it up, I received numerous recommendations. I ended up spending three to four hours going through them all, and by the end, I felt overwhelmed (N24). In summary, the cumulative influences of systemic features, usage patterns, and informational aspects within social media culminate in a multifaceted impact of information overload on college students experiencing psychological distress. This impact encompasses negative emotions, negative cognitive tendencies, virtual social satisfaction and social deprivation, the fear of missing out, and heightened skepticism regarding the credibility of information in response to issues associated with social comparisons. Factors Influencing Information Avoidance Behavior in Psychologically Distressed University Students Negative Emotions Information overload on social media has a direct impact on the emotional well-being of college students experiencing psychological distress, intensifying their susceptibility to negative emotions [ 39 ] . Firstly, false information and negative comments encountered on social media can trigger feelings of anger and discontent, amplifying their sense of information uncertainty and resulting in heightened levels of anger and anxiety. The unreliability of information and the proliferation of negative emotions render college students in psychological distress more prone to experiencing tension and irritability while browsing information. Secondly, the complexity of information on social media places an additional burden on college students in psychological distress when it comes to discerning and selecting information. They must invest more time in filtering out useful information, and this pressure of choice further compounds their feelings of anxiety [ 6 ] . Furthermore, the prevalence of negative content on social media, such as adverse news and pessimistic comments, can give rise to concerns and a pervasive sense of pessimism about the world. In summary, social media information overload incites negative emotions among college students experiencing psychological distress, encompassing feelings of anger, anxiety, tension, worry, and dissatisfaction. These emotions interweave, creating an adverse psychological cycle. The intensification of these negative emotions subsequently exacerbates their psychological distress, rendering them more inclined to resort to information avoidance behaviors as a means to mitigate the adverse emotional impact of social media. A couple of days ago, I watched a video that talked about identifying spinal curvature using the middle finger, and I noticed that my back was slightly uneven. This made me somewhat anxious, so I decided to search online for more information. However, I found an overwhelming amount of information, which only increased my anxiety (N1). Due to the information overload, I couldn't make a selection, and the more I read, the more anxious I became (N15). I didn't know which symptoms I really had or whether it was this specific condition or another one. I couldn't differentiate, and, in short, I had no idea what was wrong with me, which made me feel quite uncomfortable and anxious (N9). Negative Cognitive Tendencies College students grappling with psychological distress frequently contend with inner feelings of inadequacy and suspicion. When confronted with information overload on social media, they often develop negative cognitive tendencies, which propel them towards a preference for information avoidance behaviors as a means to alleviate psychological pressure and discomfort. Their uncertainty about information usage and their frequent utilization of multiple social media platforms for information retrieval are rooted in feelings of uncertainty. However, the sheer volume of information sources intensifies information anxiety, subsequently leading to ensuing information avoidance behaviors [ 17 ] . Confronted with a multitude of conflicting information and perspectives, they grapple with challenges in effectively filtering, integrating, and evaluating the credibility of information. This gives rise to cognitive conflicts and negative emotions, ultimately propelling them towards information avoidance behaviors. Moreover, information overload triggers social comparisons, often resulting in unfavorable comparisons between the lives of others portrayed on social media and their own lives. This engenders feelings of psychological disparity and self-doubt. College students experiencing psychological distress express that the abundance of information on social media makes it arduous for them to effectively distinguish truth from falsehood. This, in turn, imposes cognitive burdens and fosters a sense of their own limited knowledge, engendering feelings of self-defeat and exacerbating their negative emotions, subsequently leading to information avoidance behaviors. Scrolling through various comments, you start to feel like society is quite gloomy at times, and this sensation can be overwhelming (N3). When you search for information you're not familiar with and find numerous conflicting viewpoints, it can become burdensome. You're unsure about which one to choose, and it seems like each perspective has its merits. This can lead to a sense of disappointment, making you feel inadequate in terms of your cognitive abilities and knowledge base. It can create a feeling of personal failure (8). Virtual Social Satisfaction and Social Scarcity College students experiencing psychological distress often grapple with loneliness arising from social isolation in their real lives, with social media serving as a means to seek a sense of belonging and identity [ 40 ] . However, social media information overload fulfills their virtual social needs while concurrently imposing information-related stress and psychological burden. The satisfaction derived from virtual social interactions, combined with the increasing diversity of information, has gradually led college students with psychological distress to reduce their reliance on real-world social interactions, intensifying feelings of loneliness and social isolation [ 41 ] . Frequent virtual interactions have also resulted in fatigue and weariness, prompting a proclivity to disengage from social media [ 42 ] . While social media grants them the freedom to express themselves in the virtual realm and cultivate virtual friendships, this immersion also comes with the pressure of information overload. Confronted with this situation, they opt to avoid social media information to alleviate stress and anxiety. College students experiencing psychological distress frequently mention that they tend to seek virtual social satisfaction as a response to their social isolation, but the information overload also brings psychological burdens, further exacerbating their feelings of social isolation. I have few friends, and at first, using social media felt exciting as I could chat with many strangers. However, over time, it started to feel dull and lacked authenticity. I also didn't know what to talk about with my classmates [N16]. While social media allows me to find joy in making friends online, I still feel lonely when I return to the real world [N23]. Social Comparison Upward social comparison on social networks pertains to the behavior of individuals comparing themselves with others' positively presented content in their use of social networks [ 43 ] . College students experiencing psychological distress often find themselves deeply entrenched in this behavior due to the distinctive nature of social media, which provides a convenient avenue for engaging in social comparisons. As noted by Bright et al. [ 33 ] , individuals do not inherently experience anxiety when using social networks; instead, anxiety arises following upward social comparisons made with online content. Information on social media is often meticulously curated, easily leading to psychological distress among college students who engage in upward social comparisons. This, in turn, damages their self-esteem [ 44 ] and triggers negative emotions such as jealousy, anxiety, and depression. Within the context of information overload, individuals tend to present an optimistic and idealized version of themselves on social platforms, with information often being exaggerated and ostentatious. This further intensifies the inclination of college students experiencing psychological distress to engage in upward social comparisons. These students often grapple with feelings of inadequacy, negative emotions, and negative self-evaluation. On social media, they perceive the superiority of content creators in comparison to other users, further fueling their unfavorable self-comparisons, leading to deeper feelings of inferiority, anxiety, and discontent. Consequently, this exacerbates their psychological distress. These factors render them more inclined to engage in information avoidance behaviors as a means to alleviate the negative emotions stemming from social comparisons. College students in psychological distress express that when they witness their peers on social media achieving greater progress, receiving superior grades, or participating in more interesting and valuable activities, they tend to intensify their social comparisons. This, in turn, deepens their feelings of inferiority, anxiety, and discontent, ultimately prompting information avoidance as a means to alleviate the negative emotions arising from upward social comparisons. In the realm of social media, encountering individuals with exceptional insights or exceptionally high levels of education often leads to a sense of inadequacy. Comparing oneself to these individuals can evoke feelings of insignificance (N2). Social media platforms frequently recommend profiles of highly accomplished individuals with privileged backgrounds, attending prestigious universities and seemingly spending in a day what might constitute a month's worth of living expenses for oneself. Such circumstances can trigger contemplation about personal financial limitations (N14). Fear of Missing Out The fear of missing out (FOMO) pertains to a pervasive anxiety experienced by individuals due to the concern that they might miss out on meaningful experiences or valuable information shared by others [ 45 ] . University students grappling with psychological distress often exhibit characteristics of social isolation and self-imposed seclusion. While the convenience and immediacy of social media address their emotional and social needs, they also introduce the issue of information overload, consequently triggering a fear of missing out. Research has established that individuals with higher levels of fear of missing out tend to use social media more frequently to fulfill their social relationship needs [ 46 , 47 ] . As social media information continually inundates their feeds, psychologically distressed university students fear missing out on social opportunities. Consequently, they frequently check social media to prevent missing important interactions, inadvertently intensifying their anxiety. Furthermore, the diverse interactions on social media satisfy their desire for attention but also provoke a fear of not receiving enough attention, prompting them to continually monitor social media. To alleviate this emotional distress, they engage in information avoidance behaviors, consciously reducing their participation on social media to mitigate information overload and the fear of missing out. This fear of missing out drives psychologically distressed university students to overuse social media [ 48 ] , potentially impacting their attention and sleep quality. Simultaneously, they continuously monitor the content posted by others on social media, leading to exposure to negative events and subsequent development of negative emotions and negative cognitions. Due to the convenience of social media, they frequently check their platforms, fearing they might miss any interaction, which would otherwise lead to anxiety and unease. These factors interplay and exacerbate the psychological distress experienced by psychologically distressed university students. I follow my favorite bloggers, enjoying their posts and edited videos. Whenever I have spare time, I check for updates. (N18) I feel insecure without my phone. When I open it, I check for messages or if anyone has reached out to me. I need to go through everything to feel at ease. (N1) Social media allows me to quickly access the latest information. I often check it when I'm free because I'm afraid of missing out on important news. (N6) Behavioral Consequences of Perceived Social Media Information Overload Information Avoidance Information overload often results in stress and fatigue, and it may even lead to discontinuation of the use of information sources [ 25 , 32 , 49 ] . Social media information overload indirectly triggers information avoidance through factors such as negative emotions, negative cognitive tendencies, social scarcity, upward social comparison, and the fear of missing out. College students experiencing psychological distress often turn to information avoidance as an adaptive strategy when confronted with social media information overload. Information avoidance can be categorized into two main types: acquisition avoidance and absorption avoidance. Acquisition avoidance involves actively avoiding the acquisition of new information, such as uninstalling applications or blocking messages, in order to reduce the influx of information and thereby alleviate negative effects. This approach helps alleviate the anxiety caused by social media information overload. On the other hand, absorption avoidance entails obtaining information but refraining from deep consideration or absorption, disregarding or avoiding its authenticity for the purpose of stress reduction. This form of avoidance helps mitigate the negative impact of information overload on emotions and cognition. College students experiencing psychological distress note the difficulty in discerning the authenticity of information on social media; hence, they tend to browse rather than readily accept it. These information avoidance strategies collectively aid college students experiencing psychological distress in managing the adverse effects of information overload. They provide partial relief from the psychological challenges they encounter in the social media environment. Information avoidance behavior serves as an adaptive strategy for college students facing psychological distress, assisting them in maintaining their psychological equilibrium amidst the pressures imposed by information overload. Every day, when I see so much information, sometimes I find it really annoying, and then I just stop looking at it, give up on it. (N6) If there's something I don't want to see, I'll block it. (N11) Sometimes, even after I've blocked it, it still shows up. At that point, I get really annoyed and just uninstall the app. (N22) For example, I really like a celebrity, and there was a period on Weibo when they were constantly being criticized. It made me angry, so I uninstalled Weibo. It's like distancing myself from some sources, so I don't see as much information, and the pressure isn't as high. My mood has improved a lot. (N30) Discussion Major Findings This study aims to comprehensively investigate the influencing factors and pathways of information avoidance behavior among college students experiencing psychological distress in the context of social media information overload. Utilizing a qualitative analysis approach grounded in Grounded Theory, this research meticulously examines and categorizes the influencing factors into seven dimensions: perception of information overload, negative emotions, negative cognitive tendencies, virtual social satisfaction and social scarcity, social comparison, fear of missing out, and information avoidance. Additionally, it delves into the intricate interrelationships among these factors. Firstly, research indicates that an excess of information can elicit negative emotions in users [ 50 ] . When individuals experience psychological discomfort, they tend to employ coping mechanisms to alleviate this distress [ 51 ] . Information overload triggers negative emotions in college students experiencing psychological distress, particularly anxiety and depression. These negative emotions give rise to various information avoidance behaviors as a coping mechanism. Secondly, negative cognitive tendencies become more pronounced under the influence of information overload, making college students experiencing psychological distress more inclined to interpret information negatively, thus prompting information avoidance. Furthermore, social media often contains instances of misinformation and mismanagement [ 52 , 53 ] . Spending a significant amount of time on social media may expose users to negative messages and extreme comments, rendering them more susceptible to feelings of fatigue [ 54 ] and, consequently, more inclined to engage in information avoidance behaviors. Social media information overload results in a decline in information quality, leading users to doubt the authenticity of the provided information and requiring them to invest time in verifying its accuracy [ 55 ] . When college students experiencing psychological distress are compelled to spend an excessive amount of time seeking useful information, it can lead to negative emotions [ 56 ] . This, in turn, prompts them to resort to information avoidance behaviors to alleviate their psychological burden and anxiety. Research has shown that individuals with low confidence in their information-seeking abilities, as well as those who believe they struggle to assess the quality of information or comprehend it, are more likely to experience information overload [ 57 ] . Furthermore, virtual social satisfaction and social scarcity are intertwined, causing college students facing psychological distress to rely more on social media while neglecting real-life social interactions. This exacerbates social scarcity issues, prompting them to engage in information avoidance behaviors. Upward social comparison refers to individuals comparing themselves to those who perform better or have a better quality of life [ 43 ] . Social media is considered a platform that readily triggers social comparison, especially with individuals who appear to be better off than oneself [ 43 , 58 ] . Research has shown that adolescents are susceptible to peer influence, and information from similar groups on social media is more likely to trigger social comparison in them [ 59 ] . The presence of upward social comparison intensifies negative emotions and negative cognitive tendencies, leading college students experiencing psychological distress to emotionally avoid unfavorable comparisons on social media, thereby triggering information avoidance. Finally, the fear of missing out becomes a significant driving factor; college students facing psychological distress fear missing social opportunities or essential information. Consequently, they frequently check social media, which leads to information avoidance behaviors. These factors interweave to form a complex path of information avoidance behaviors. In the context of information overload on social media, college students experiencing psychological distress undergo a complex interplay of factors, including negative emotions, negative cognitive tendencies, virtual social satisfaction coupled with social scarcity, upward social comparison, and the fear of missing out. Firstly, college students facing psychological distress initiate negative perceptions due to their inherent negative cognitive tendencies, which further intensify their negative emotions. The pursuit of virtual social satisfaction on social media nurtures a tendency to avoid real-world social interactions, exacerbating social scarcity. This immersion in virtual social satisfaction triggers upward social comparison and the fear of missing out. Secondly, upward social comparison sparks feelings of inadequacy and anxiety, creating a vicious cycle that amplifies negative emotions and negative cognitive tendencies. Finally, the fear of missing out, driven by anxiety about missing essential information, compels frequent checks on social media, further exacerbating anxiety. These factors interact and collectively impact the psychological state and behavioral patterns of college students facing psychological distress. In conclusion, information overload within the context of social media triggers intricate psychological dynamics among college students experiencing psychological distress, leading them to adopt information avoidance behaviors. This study enhances our comprehension of information avoidance behaviors in the context of social media among college students with psychological distress and offers valuable insights to aid them in effectively managing information overload. Conclusion When college students experiencing psychological distress perceive information overload on social media, it frequently initiates the emergence of negative emotions, negative cognitive tendencies, virtual social satisfaction intertwined with social scarcity, social comparison, and the fear of missing out. These interconnected factors collectively motivate them to partake in information avoidance behaviors. Declarations Ethics approval and consent to participate This study conforms to the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki and has been approved by the Ethics Committee of Xinyang Normal University (Study ID: XFEC-2023-020). Informed consent was obtained from all the participants. Consent for publication Not applicable in the declarations section. Conflicts of interest The authors have no competing or conflict of interest to declare. Funding: This work was supported by the Humanities and Social Sciences Project of Henan Provincial Department of Education (No.2023-ZZJH-057), the Soft Science Project of Xinyang (No.20230043), the Teacher Education Curriculum Reform Research Project in Henan Province (No.2023-JSJYZD-018), the Xinyang Normal University Youth Sustentation Fund Project (No.2023-QN-055) and the Xinyang Normal University Student Scientific Research Fund Project (No.2023-DXS-134). Author Contribution LW, WH and FT contributed to the conceptualization, data curation, formal analysis, investigation, methodology, writing of the original manuscript. SR, QP, MY and QM contributed to data curation and methodology of the manuscript. ZL and QJ contributed to the data curation of the manuscript. 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They are happier and having better lives than I am: the impact of using Facebook on perceptions of others' lives. Cyberpsychology, behavior, and social networking. 2012;15(2):117–21. Lee SY. How do people compare themselves with others on social network sites? The case of Facebook. Comput Hum Behav. 2014;32:253–60. Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Supplementary Files MultimediaAppendix1.docx Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. 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14:00:37","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-3909071/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-3909071/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":50485725,"identity":"9fb6e4cd-9022-4941-849d-e1951e305cab","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-02-01 09:11:15","extension":"jpeg","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":249520,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eModel of Information Overload and Information Avoidance Behavior Mechanisms Among Psychologically Distressed University Students in the Social Media Context.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"floatimage1.jpeg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-3909071/v1/2636c4133f7cddace6029566.jpeg"},{"id":50780073,"identity":"4f1292d3-b947-4c73-abd5-bc19df5f069b","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-02-07 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Media","fulltext":[{"header":"Background","content":"\u003cp\u003eRevision: Social media has unquestionably established itself as the fastest and most convenient online platform for information retrieval and the dissemination of specific subjects\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. As of June 2023, the number of internet users in China had soared to an astonishing 1.079 billion\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e, with the adoption of social media showing no signs of slowing down. Simultaneously, the issue of information overload has become increasingly pronounced. Information overload refers to a situation in which the volume of information exceeds an individual's capacity for information processing\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e, resulting in psychological stress\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e, negative emotions\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e, symptoms of depression, and feelings of anxiety\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eRevision: In recent years, there has been a significant surge in research focusing on information overload within the context of social media, particularly concerning user psychology and information behavior. While social media has undoubtedly enhanced the convenience of communication within pre-existing offline relationships, it has also unintentionally introduced stress, feelings of disconnection, and loneliness, along with other negative emotions\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. Research has elucidated that information overload tends to manifest when recipients lack sufficient background knowledge to effectively process the influx of information they receive\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e, thereby giving rise to a myriad of adverse emotional experiences among users\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. Additionally, studies have consistently shown that information overload often leads to prolonged states of anxiety in individuals\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. During episodes of information overload, users become more susceptible to experiencing stress, difficulties in keeping pace with unfolding events, and even feelings of confusion and self-doubt, ultimately impacting their physical and psychological well-being \u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eInformation avoidance refers to an individual's tendency to postpone the acquisition of potentially undesirable information, a prevalent negative response \u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. For example, research conducted by Howell et al.\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e13\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e revealed that individuals are inclined to avoid certain information when comprehending it would necessitate actions they are unwilling to take. X. Li et al. \u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e have proposed that factors like the relevance of advertisements, information overload, and breaches of common language may influence users' proclivity to steer clear of advertising content. In an analysis conducted by Link E\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e, it was observed that individuals tend to avoid information more frequently on websites and social media platforms, in contrast to mainstream communication channels. Furthermore, information avoidance is recognized as an effective strategy for managing risks and alleviating negative emotions\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e16\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. Soroya et al. \u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e17\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e s that information overload stemming from an excessive number of information sources exacerbates information-related anxiety, causing users to transition from actively seeking health-related information to avoidance behaviors. Additionally, scholars investigating information avoidance behaviors in the realm of social media have emphasized that information overload serves as a primary catalyst for information avoidance\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e18\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. Furthermore, research indicates that negative emotions act as triggers for users to engage in information avoidance behaviors\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e19\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eOver the past decade, there has been a notable increase in the prevalence of psychological distress among university students\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR21 CR22\" citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e20\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR23\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e23\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. It is worth noting that many of these students, grappling with these negative emotions, often hesitate to seek help, remain silent, and lack effective strategies to address their mental health issues. This hesitation can result in delayed treatment and, in some cases, even contribute to suicidal tendencies\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR24\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e24\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. Prolonged negative emotions can also lead psychologically distressed university students to misinterpret information, fostering pessimism and exacerbating their mental health challenges. Research has pointed to a connection between social media usage and adverse psychological outcomes\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e17\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. For instance, a study by Swar et al.\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e identified a significant positive correlation between perceived information overload and the development of psychological disorders. Additionally, investigations have proposed that both social overload and information overload might drive users toward information avoidance behaviors on social media platforms\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR25\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e25\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. Given the escalating volume of information and the growing uncertainty surrounding its quality, it becomes imperative to explore whether psychologically distressed university students frequently resort to information avoidance behaviors. Such an exploration can provide valuable insights into the psychological reactions and mechanisms underlying these behaviors.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn summary, to enhance our comprehension of the intricate connection between information overload and information avoidance behaviors among college students grappling with psychological distress in the realm of social media, this study employs Grounded Theory to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the primary influencing factors and underlying mechanisms. By doing so, this research not only deepens our understanding of the overwhelming information-related challenges confronting psychologically distressed college students but also facilitates the development of more pragmatic and efficient psychological support and intervention measures tailored to their specific needs.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Methods","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec3\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eStudy Approach\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis study utilizes Charmaz's constructivist grounded theory\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR26\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e26\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR27\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e27\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e, a qualitative research approach aimed at exploring social interactions and experiences to develop theories grounded in data\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR28\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e28\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. The primary objective of this research is to delve into the mechanisms by which information overload within the realm of social media influences information avoidance behaviors among college students who are experiencing psychological distress. To achieve this objective, grounded theory serves as the chosen research methodology for the systematic extraction of influencing factors. Through the application of grounded theory, our aim is to investigate the associative mechanisms between information overload within the context of social media and information avoidance behaviors among college students facing psychological distress, thus facilitating a deeper comprehension of the underlying causes and impact pathways of this phenomenon.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec4\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eEthical Considerations\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eApproval for this study has been granted by the Ethics Committee of Xinyang Normal University (Study ID: XFEC-2023-020).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec5\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eRecruitment\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eBetween May and December 2023, we conducted interviews with undergraduate students selected from a specific location. We identified 30 students of particular interest based on a psychological survey conducted during their university enrollment and subsequently conducted in-depth interviews with them. The inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) Participants must be full-time undergraduate students; (2) They must have prior experience using social media platforms; (3) Voluntary participation in the study was required; (4) Positive indications of anxiety, depression, or suicidal thoughts in the university's psychological survey. Exclusion criteria included: (1) The presence of language communication barriers; (2) Prior receipt of psychological counseling, therapy, or intervention; (3) Current usage of psychiatric medications. During the initial phases of the study, purposive sampling was employed, and this process continued until no new factors affecting the participants' cognitive understanding and judgments of short video information interactions emerged. At this point, we considered that theoretical saturation had essentially been reached \u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR29\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e29\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec6\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eData Collection\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis study employed a one-on-one, semi-structured interview approach, complemented by field notes and observational methods for data collection. The interviews encompassed the following key areas: (1) What types of information do you typically search for on the internet, and how do you go about acquiring it (including methods and sources)? (2) Do you encounter information overload on the internet during your search process? (3) Does internet information overload hinder your ability to find valuable information? When you come across conflicting information, does it cause confusion or exacerbate your anxiety and emotions? (4) Does internet information overload worsen your existing concerns, and does it have any impact on you, be it psychological, in your daily life, or in your studies? (5) When you perceive information overload, what coping strategies do you employ, and do you find them effective? Subsequently, a comprehensive analysis of all the collected data was undertaken to ensure the accuracy of the data analysis process. In this study, the duration of each interview with participants ranged from 20 to 35 minutes, with an average duration of 24 minutes. The total transcribed word count exceeded 41,000 words.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec7\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eData Analysis\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe data analysis process employed a research approach based on Constructivist Grounded Theory\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e20\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. It commenced with open coding, the initial step in the Grounded Theory process, resulting in a total of 367 raw statements and concepts, which were subsequently condensed into 57 concepts. Following this, axial coding was applied, leading to the formation of 19 core categories. Subsequently, selective coding was conducted at a higher level of abstraction following axial coding, eventually leading to the identification of 7 core categories: negative emotions, negative cognitive tendencies, virtual social satisfaction and social scarcity, social comparisons, fear of missing out, information overload, and information avoidance. Building upon these influencing factors, a comprehensive model was constructed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying information avoidance behaviors among college students experiencing psychological distress within the context of social media. For specific coding details, please refer to Appendix 1.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Results","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec9\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eParticipant Characteristics\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe ultimate sample for this study comprised 30 college students who were experiencing psychological distress. Their average age was 20 years, consisting of 24 females and 6 males. Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e for details.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGeneral Information of Interviewees(n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;30)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"8\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c8\" colnum=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNumber\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGender\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAge\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePlace origin\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDuration of Social Media Usage(years)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHave you experienced information overload?\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eIs there distress after perceiving information overload?\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eWhether to adopt information avoidance behavior\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eN1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003efemale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e21\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ecounty seat\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5\u0026ndash;6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eN2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003efemale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ecountryside\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e 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\u003cp\u003e3\u0026ndash;4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eN6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003efemale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e18\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ecountryside\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6\u0026ndash;7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFalse\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e 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colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eN8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003efemale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ecountryside\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4\u0026ndash;5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eN9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003efemale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e18\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ecity\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u0026ndash;2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eN10\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003emale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e19\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ecountryside\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eN11\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003efemale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ecity\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eN12\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003efemale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ecounty seat\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7\u0026ndash;8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eN13\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003efemale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e21\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ecity\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eN14\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003efemale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e21\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ecountryside\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eN15\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003efemale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e21\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ecity\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6\u0026ndash;7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eN16\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003emale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e22\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ecountryside\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eN17\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003efemale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e21\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ecountryside\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u0026ndash;4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eN18\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003efemale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e19\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ecountryside\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eN19\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003efemale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e22\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ecountryside\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5\u0026ndash;6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eN20\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003efemale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e21\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ecountryside\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eN21\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003emale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e22\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ecountryside\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6\u0026ndash;7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eN22\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003efemale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ecountryside\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u0026ndash;4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eN23\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003efemale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e19\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ecountry seat\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eN24\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003efemale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e21\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ecountryside\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eN25\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003emale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ecountryside\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eN26\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003efemale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e19\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ecountryside\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eN27\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003efemale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e22\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ecountry seat\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u0026ndash;4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eN28\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003efemale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e21\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ecountryside\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eN29\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003emale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e22\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ecountryside\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eN30\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003efemale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ecity\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u0026ndash;4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eDevelopment of a Model for the Mechanisms of Information Avoidance Behavior among College Students Experiencing Psychological Distress in the Context of Social Media Information Overload\u003c/b\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis study utilized a three-level coding approach rooted in Grounded Theory. Focusing on the cognitive process of perceiving social media information overload, it conducted a detailed analysis and developed a model highlighting the factors influencing information avoidance behaviors among college students experiencing psychological distress. These influencing factors were classified into five categories: negative emotions, negative cognitive tendencies, virtual social satisfaction and social scarcity, social comparison, and the fear of missing out. These five aspects are intricately linked to information avoidance behaviors. A visual representation of these aspects can be found in Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec10\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003ePerceiving Information Overload on Social Media\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe perception of information overload on social media acts as an indirect influencing factor on information avoidance behaviors among college students experiencing psychological distress. These students are at a stage of adolescence characterized by limited life and social experiences, making them particularly susceptible to various external environmental stimuli and influences. When college students facing psychological distress perceive information overload on social media, it tends to trigger the emergence of negative emotions, negative cognitive tendencies, virtual social satisfaction, social scarcity, and the fear of missing out, ultimately leading to information avoidance behaviors. In this study, information overload is categorized into three specific domains: system characteristics, information characteristics, and usage characteristics.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec11\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eSystem Characteristics\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eSystem characteristics encompass the distinctive features and functionalities inherent to social media platforms, which exert significant influence over aspects such as information retrieval, dissemination, social interaction, and user experience. These system characteristics exhibit a close association with negative emotions, negative cognitive tendencies, and upward social comparisons. Psychologically distressed college students, marked by introverted and pessimistic traits, are more susceptible to the influence of negative information when using social media. They encounter difficulties in effectively processing information, resulting in a perception of information overload and subsequent information avoidance behaviors. The multifaceted interactive features of social media platforms frequently entice psychologically distressed college students to engage in online social interactions. This inclination leads to continuous monitoring of others' content, fostering upward social comparisons and heightened negative emotions. The sheer volume of information on social media and the intensive push services surpass the limited information reception and processing capacity of psychologically distressed college students\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR25\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e25\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. Consequently, they grapple with the challenge of managing the abundance of fragmented and repetitive information, thereby increasing the risk of psychological distress. Additionally, concerns related to privacy emerge due to the frequent push of information and personalized advertising on social media platforms, subsequently leading to information avoidance behaviors\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR30\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e30\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR31\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e31\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. The intricate functionalities and settings inherent to social media platforms heighten the cognitive burden, reducing user-friendliness, and contributing to negative emotions among psychologically distressed college students.Furthermore, the frequent expansion and updates of system functionalities by social media operators necessitate that users stay informed about numerous new features. This complexity adds to the challenge of organizing information and exacerbates information overload. \u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR32\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e32\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003cdiv class=\"BlockQuote\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003eI feel really frustrated when there's just too much of this stuff, and then I don't want to look at it (N5). There are just so many annoying ads, and it's a bit hard to find what I want (N19). Because there's so much information, it's difficult to make a selection (28). I liked using a social media platform, but they kept updating the system, which was annoying. The original version was much better. In the end, I uninstalled it (4).\u003c/em\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec12\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eInformation Characteristics\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eInformation characteristics pertain to the attributes and features exhibited by the information accessible to users on social media platforms. These characteristics are intricately linked to negative emotions and negative cognitive tendencies. Research has revealed that, while social media offers convenience for individual communication, it also inundates users with a vast amount of information. When information surpasses a \"critical point,\" it induces privacy fatigue, characterized by a state of negative exhaustion\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR33\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e33\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. Given the prevalence of irrational, emotional, and extreme discourse on social media, college students experiencing psychological distress frequently manifest anxiety. Prior research has established that individuals with high trait anxiety, when exposed to information related to threats, experience impaired information processing abilities due to anxiety, rendering them more susceptible to perceiving information overload\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR34\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e34\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. Furthermore, their lack of self-confidence in their abilities, coupled with the profusion of information on social media, makes it challenging for them to effectively filter and accurately discern the veracity of information. This, in turn, increases cognitive burdens and leads to information avoidance behaviors. College students experiencing psychological distress frequently articulate that the volume of information and its repetitiveness often cause them to overlook genuinely valuable information during their searches. Moreover, the task of discerning the authenticity and usefulness of information consumes a substantial amount of time and energy, engendering intense feelings of frustration and agitation, ultimately culminating in information avoidance behaviors.\u003cdiv class=\"BlockQuote\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003eWhen information conflicts, it indeed becomes perplexing and exacerbates my feelings of anxiety or irritability, which are not conducive emotions (N2). At times, there's just too much content, and it becomes challenging to differentiate (N10). The material I come across often appears repetitive, with some even conflicting with one another. It leaves me unsure of how to make choices. Sometimes, it becomes overwhelming, and I don't feel like browsing TikTok or checking out Xiaohongshu; I simply don't want to engage in anything (N14).\u003c/em\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec13\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eUsage Characteristics\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eUsage characteristics encompass distinct social media usage behaviors exhibited by users, primarily including usage intensity, usage experience, and the types of social media platforms used. These usage characteristics are intimately linked to negative cognitive tendencies, virtual social satisfaction, social scarcity, and the fear of missing out. College students experiencing psychological distress tend to engage with social media for extended durations and with high frequency. This heightened usage exposes them to a substantial volume of information, resulting in increased perceptions of information overload. The convenience and interactivity inherent in social media platforms have cultivated habits of overreliance among these college students, potentially impacting their academic performance and mental well-being, ultimately leading to feelings of depression and anxiety \u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR35\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e35\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR36\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e36\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. Due to factors such as introversion and pessimism, these students grapple with social scarcity in their offline lives. Consequently, they rely more heavily on virtual social satisfaction. Paradoxically, an excessive dependence on social media exacerbates their real-life social scarcity. Additionally, expectations regarding social media and the fear of missing out can disrupt sleep patterns\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR37\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e37\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR38\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e38\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e, leading to attention and sleep disturbances that, in turn, affect overall well-being. The utilization of multiple social media platforms amplifies the burden of information acquisition and processing, resulting in cognitive overload and information overload phenomena. College students experiencing psychological distress often turn to social media to seek information related to their studies and daily lives. However, they frequently encounter irrelevant content during these searches, necessitating the sifting through vast amounts of information to locate valuable portions. This dispersion of attention poses challenges to their ability to concentrate on their studies.\u003cdiv class=\"BlockQuote\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003eWhen I encounter questions I don't know or need to look up something, I usually search online because it's convenient, but I often get a plethora of information in the search results, which can be overwhelming (N26). I spend a lot of time on social media every day, just scrolling through it when I have free time. However, it constantly pushes a lot of similar information to me, which can be quite annoying (N27). When I come across a problem, I search online for answers, but many times, the results can be confusing because there's too much to choose from (N9). For instance, I was thinking of buying a specific shampoo for long hair, and once I started looking it up, I received numerous recommendations. I ended up spending three to four hours going through them all, and by the end, I felt overwhelmed (N24).\u003c/em\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn summary, the cumulative influences of systemic features, usage patterns, and informational aspects within social media culminate in a multifaceted impact of information overload on college students experiencing psychological distress. This impact encompasses negative emotions, negative cognitive tendencies, virtual social satisfaction and social deprivation, the fear of missing out, and heightened skepticism regarding the credibility of information in response to issues associated with social comparisons.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec14\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eFactors Influencing Information Avoidance Behavior in Psychologically Distressed University Students\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec15\" class=\"Section3\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eNegative Emotions\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eInformation overload on social media has a direct impact on the emotional well-being of college students experiencing psychological distress, intensifying their susceptibility to negative emotions\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR39\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e39\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. Firstly, false information and negative comments encountered on social media can trigger feelings of anger and discontent, amplifying their sense of information uncertainty and resulting in heightened levels of anger and anxiety. The unreliability of information and the proliferation of negative emotions render college students in psychological distress more prone to experiencing tension and irritability while browsing information. Secondly, the complexity of information on social media places an additional burden on college students in psychological distress when it comes to discerning and selecting information. They must invest more time in filtering out useful information, and this pressure of choice further compounds their feelings of anxiety\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. Furthermore, the prevalence of negative content on social media, such as adverse news and pessimistic comments, can give rise to concerns and a pervasive sense of pessimism about the world.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn summary, social media information overload incites negative emotions among college students experiencing psychological distress, encompassing feelings of anger, anxiety, tension, worry, and dissatisfaction. These emotions interweave, creating an adverse psychological cycle. The intensification of these negative emotions subsequently exacerbates their psychological distress, rendering them more inclined to resort to information avoidance behaviors as a means to mitigate the adverse emotional impact of social media.\u003cdiv class=\"BlockQuote\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003eA couple of days ago, I watched a video that talked about identifying spinal curvature using the middle finger, and I noticed that my back was slightly uneven. This made me somewhat anxious, so I decided to search online for more information. However, I found an overwhelming amount of information, which only increased my anxiety (N1). Due to the information overload, I couldn't make a selection, and the more I read, the more anxious I became (N15). I didn't know which symptoms I really had or whether it was this specific condition or another one. I couldn't differentiate, and, in short, I had no idea what was wrong with me, which made me feel quite uncomfortable and anxious (N9).\u003c/em\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec16\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eNegative Cognitive Tendencies\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eCollege students grappling with psychological distress frequently contend with inner feelings of inadequacy and suspicion. When confronted with information overload on social media, they often develop negative cognitive tendencies, which propel them towards a preference for information avoidance behaviors as a means to alleviate psychological pressure and discomfort. Their uncertainty about information usage and their frequent utilization of multiple social media platforms for information retrieval are rooted in feelings of uncertainty. However, the sheer volume of information sources intensifies information anxiety, subsequently leading to ensuing information avoidance behaviors\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e17\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. Confronted with a multitude of conflicting information and perspectives, they grapple with challenges in effectively filtering, integrating, and evaluating the credibility of information. This gives rise to cognitive conflicts and negative emotions, ultimately propelling them towards information avoidance behaviors. Moreover, information overload triggers social comparisons, often resulting in unfavorable comparisons between the lives of others portrayed on social media and their own lives. This engenders feelings of psychological disparity and self-doubt. College students experiencing psychological distress express that the abundance of information on social media makes it arduous for them to effectively distinguish truth from falsehood. This, in turn, imposes cognitive burdens and fosters a sense of their own limited knowledge, engendering feelings of self-defeat and exacerbating their negative emotions, subsequently leading to information avoidance behaviors.\u003cdiv class=\"BlockQuote\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003eScrolling through various comments, you start to feel like society is quite gloomy at times, and this sensation can be overwhelming (N3). When you search for information you're not familiar with and find numerous conflicting viewpoints, it can become burdensome. You're unsure about which one to choose, and it seems like each perspective has its merits. This can lead to a sense of disappointment, making you feel inadequate in terms of your cognitive abilities and knowledge base. It can create a feeling of personal failure (8).\u003c/em\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec17\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eVirtual Social Satisfaction and Social Scarcity\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eCollege students experiencing psychological distress often grapple with loneliness arising from social isolation in their real lives, with social media serving as a means to seek a sense of belonging and identity\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR40\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e40\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. However, social media information overload fulfills their virtual social needs while concurrently imposing information-related stress and psychological burden. The satisfaction derived from virtual social interactions, combined with the increasing diversity of information, has gradually led college students with psychological distress to reduce their reliance on real-world social interactions, intensifying feelings of loneliness and social isolation\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR41\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e41\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. Frequent virtual interactions have also resulted in fatigue and weariness, prompting a proclivity to disengage from social media\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR42\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e42\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. While social media grants them the freedom to express themselves in the virtual realm and cultivate virtual friendships, this immersion also comes with the pressure of information overload. Confronted with this situation, they opt to avoid social media information to alleviate stress and anxiety. College students experiencing psychological distress frequently mention that they tend to seek virtual social satisfaction as a response to their social isolation, but the information overload also brings psychological burdens, further exacerbating their feelings of social isolation.\u003cdiv class=\"BlockQuote\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003eI have few friends, and at first, using social media felt exciting as I could chat with many strangers. However, over time, it started to feel dull and lacked authenticity. I also didn't know what to talk about with my classmates [N16]. While social media allows me to find joy in making friends online, I still feel lonely when I return to the real world [N23].\u003c/em\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec18\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eSocial Comparison\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eUpward social comparison on social networks pertains to the behavior of individuals comparing themselves with others' positively presented content in their use of social networks\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR43\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e43\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. College students experiencing psychological distress often find themselves deeply entrenched in this behavior due to the distinctive nature of social media, which provides a convenient avenue for engaging in social comparisons. As noted by Bright et al.\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR33\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e33\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e, individuals do not inherently experience anxiety when using social networks; instead, anxiety arises following upward social comparisons made with online content. Information on social media is often meticulously curated, easily leading to psychological distress among college students who engage in upward social comparisons. This, in turn, damages their self-esteem\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR44\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e44\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e and triggers negative emotions such as jealousy, anxiety, and depression. Within the context of information overload, individuals tend to present an optimistic and idealized version of themselves on social platforms, with information often being exaggerated and ostentatious. This further intensifies the inclination of college students experiencing psychological distress to engage in upward social comparisons. These students often grapple with feelings of inadequacy, negative emotions, and negative self-evaluation. On social media, they perceive the superiority of content creators in comparison to other users, further fueling their unfavorable self-comparisons, leading to deeper feelings of inferiority, anxiety, and discontent. Consequently, this exacerbates their psychological distress. These factors render them more inclined to engage in information avoidance behaviors as a means to alleviate the negative emotions stemming from social comparisons. College students in psychological distress express that when they witness their peers on social media achieving greater progress, receiving superior grades, or participating in more interesting and valuable activities, they tend to intensify their social comparisons. This, in turn, deepens their feelings of inferiority, anxiety, and discontent, ultimately prompting information avoidance as a means to alleviate the negative emotions arising from upward social comparisons.\u003cdiv class=\"BlockQuote\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003eIn the realm of social media, encountering individuals with exceptional insights or exceptionally high levels of education often leads to a sense of inadequacy. Comparing oneself to these individuals can evoke feelings of insignificance (N2). Social media platforms frequently recommend profiles of highly accomplished individuals with privileged backgrounds, attending prestigious universities and seemingly spending in a day what might constitute a month's worth of living expenses for oneself. Such circumstances can trigger contemplation about personal financial limitations (N14).\u003c/em\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec19\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eFear of Missing Out\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe fear of missing out (FOMO) pertains to a pervasive anxiety experienced by individuals due to the concern that they might miss out on meaningful experiences or valuable information shared by others\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR45\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e45\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. University students grappling with psychological distress often exhibit characteristics of social isolation and self-imposed seclusion. While the convenience and immediacy of social media address their emotional and social needs, they also introduce the issue of information overload, consequently triggering a fear of missing out. Research has established that individuals with higher levels of fear of missing out tend to use social media more frequently to fulfill their social relationship needs\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR46\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e46\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR47\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e47\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. As social media information continually inundates their feeds, psychologically distressed university students fear missing out on social opportunities. Consequently, they frequently check social media to prevent missing important interactions, inadvertently intensifying their anxiety. Furthermore, the diverse interactions on social media satisfy their desire for attention but also provoke a fear of not receiving enough attention, prompting them to continually monitor social media. To alleviate this emotional distress, they engage in information avoidance behaviors, consciously reducing their participation on social media to mitigate information overload and the fear of missing out. This fear of missing out drives psychologically distressed university students to overuse social media\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR48\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e48\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e, potentially impacting their attention and sleep quality. Simultaneously, they continuously monitor the content posted by others on social media, leading to exposure to negative events and subsequent development of negative emotions and negative cognitions. Due to the convenience of social media, they frequently check their platforms, fearing they might miss any interaction, which would otherwise lead to anxiety and unease. These factors interplay and exacerbate the psychological distress experienced by psychologically distressed university students.\u003cdiv class=\"BlockQuote\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003eI follow my favorite bloggers, enjoying their posts and edited videos. Whenever I have spare time, I check for updates. (N18) I feel insecure without my phone. When I open it, I check for messages or if anyone has reached out to me. I need to go through everything to feel at ease. (N1) Social media allows me to quickly access the latest information. I often check it when I'm free because I'm afraid of missing out on important news. (N6)\u003c/em\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec20\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eBehavioral Consequences of Perceived Social Media Information Overload\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec21\" class=\"Section3\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eInformation Avoidance\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eInformation overload often results in stress and fatigue, and it may even lead to discontinuation of the use of information sources\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR25\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e25\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR32\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e32\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR49\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e49\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. Social media information overload indirectly triggers information avoidance through factors such as negative emotions, negative cognitive tendencies, social scarcity, upward social comparison, and the fear of missing out. College students experiencing psychological distress often turn to information avoidance as an adaptive strategy when confronted with social media information overload.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eInformation avoidance can be categorized into two main types: acquisition avoidance and absorption avoidance. Acquisition avoidance involves actively avoiding the acquisition of new information, such as uninstalling applications or blocking messages, in order to reduce the influx of information and thereby alleviate negative effects. This approach helps alleviate the anxiety caused by social media information overload. On the other hand, absorption avoidance entails obtaining information but refraining from deep consideration or absorption, disregarding or avoiding its authenticity for the purpose of stress reduction. This form of avoidance helps mitigate the negative impact of information overload on emotions and cognition. College students experiencing psychological distress note the difficulty in discerning the authenticity of information on social media; hence, they tend to browse rather than readily accept it.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThese information avoidance strategies collectively aid college students experiencing psychological distress in managing the adverse effects of information overload. They provide partial relief from the psychological challenges they encounter in the social media environment. Information avoidance behavior serves as an adaptive strategy for college students facing psychological distress, assisting them in maintaining their psychological equilibrium amidst the pressures imposed by information overload.\u003cdiv class=\"BlockQuote\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003eEvery day, when I see so much information, sometimes I find it really annoying, and then I just stop looking at it, give up on it. (N6) If there's something I don't want to see, I'll block it. (N11) Sometimes, even after I've blocked it, it still shows up. At that point, I get really annoyed and just uninstall the app. (N22) For example, I really like a celebrity, and there was a period on Weibo when they were constantly being criticized. It made me angry, so I uninstalled Weibo. It's like distancing myself from some sources, so I don't see as much information, and the pressure isn't as high. My mood has improved a lot. (N30)\u003c/em\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Discussion","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec23\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eMajor Findings\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis study aims to comprehensively investigate the influencing factors and pathways of information avoidance behavior among college students experiencing psychological distress in the context of social media information overload. Utilizing a qualitative analysis approach grounded in Grounded Theory, this research meticulously examines and categorizes the influencing factors into seven dimensions: perception of information overload, negative emotions, negative cognitive tendencies, virtual social satisfaction and social scarcity, social comparison, fear of missing out, and information avoidance. Additionally, it delves into the intricate interrelationships among these factors.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFirstly, research indicates that an excess of information can elicit negative emotions in users\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR50\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e50\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. When individuals experience psychological discomfort, they tend to employ coping mechanisms to alleviate this distress\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR51\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e51\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. Information overload triggers negative emotions in college students experiencing psychological distress, particularly anxiety and depression. These negative emotions give rise to various information avoidance behaviors as a coping mechanism. Secondly, negative cognitive tendencies become more pronounced under the influence of information overload, making college students experiencing psychological distress more inclined to interpret information negatively, thus prompting information avoidance. Furthermore, social media often contains instances of misinformation and mismanagement \u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR52\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e52\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR53\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e53\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. Spending a significant amount of time on social media may expose users to negative messages and extreme comments, rendering them more susceptible to feelings of fatigue\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR54\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e54\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e and, consequently, more inclined to engage in information avoidance behaviors. Social media information overload results in a decline in information quality, leading users to doubt the authenticity of the provided information and requiring them to invest time in verifying its accuracy\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR55\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e55\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. When college students experiencing psychological distress are compelled to spend an excessive amount of time seeking useful information, it can lead to negative emotions\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR56\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e56\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. This, in turn, prompts them to resort to information avoidance behaviors to alleviate their psychological burden and anxiety. Research has shown that individuals with low confidence in their information-seeking abilities, as well as those who believe they struggle to assess the quality of information or comprehend it, are more likely to experience information overload\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR57\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e57\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. Furthermore, virtual social satisfaction and social scarcity are intertwined, causing college students facing psychological distress to rely more on social media while neglecting real-life social interactions. This exacerbates social scarcity issues, prompting them to engage in information avoidance behaviors. Upward social comparison refers to individuals comparing themselves to those who perform better or have a better quality of life\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR43\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e43\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. Social media is considered a platform that readily triggers social comparison, especially with individuals who appear to be better off than oneself \u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR43\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e43\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR58\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e58\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. Research has shown that adolescents are susceptible to peer influence, and information from similar groups on social media is more likely to trigger social comparison in them\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR59\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e59\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. The presence of upward social comparison intensifies negative emotions and negative cognitive tendencies, leading college students experiencing psychological distress to emotionally avoid unfavorable comparisons on social media, thereby triggering information avoidance. Finally, the fear of missing out becomes a significant driving factor; college students facing psychological distress fear missing social opportunities or essential information. Consequently, they frequently check social media, which leads to information avoidance behaviors. These factors interweave to form a complex path of information avoidance behaviors.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn the context of information overload on social media, college students experiencing psychological distress undergo a complex interplay of factors, including negative emotions, negative cognitive tendencies, virtual social satisfaction coupled with social scarcity, upward social comparison, and the fear of missing out. Firstly, college students facing psychological distress initiate negative perceptions due to their inherent negative cognitive tendencies, which further intensify their negative emotions. The pursuit of virtual social satisfaction on social media nurtures a tendency to avoid real-world social interactions, exacerbating social scarcity. This immersion in virtual social satisfaction triggers upward social comparison and the fear of missing out. Secondly, upward social comparison sparks feelings of inadequacy and anxiety, creating a vicious cycle that amplifies negative emotions and negative cognitive tendencies. Finally, the fear of missing out, driven by anxiety about missing essential information, compels frequent checks on social media, further exacerbating anxiety. These factors interact and collectively impact the psychological state and behavioral patterns of college students facing psychological distress.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn conclusion, information overload within the context of social media triggers intricate psychological dynamics among college students experiencing psychological distress, leading them to adopt information avoidance behaviors. This study enhances our comprehension of information avoidance behaviors in the context of social media among college students with psychological distress and offers valuable insights to aid them in effectively managing information overload.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Conclusion","content":"\u003cp\u003eWhen college students experiencing psychological distress perceive information overload on social media, it frequently initiates the emergence of negative emotions, negative cognitive tendencies, virtual social satisfaction intertwined with social scarcity, social comparison, and the fear of missing out. These interconnected factors collectively motivate them to partake in information avoidance behaviors.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e \u003ch2\u003eEthics approval and consent to participate\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003e This study conforms to the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki and has been approved by the Ethics Committee of Xinyang Normal University (Study ID: XFEC-2023-020). Informed consent was obtained from all the participants.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eConsent for publication\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cp\u003eNot applicable in the declarations section.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003ch2\u003eConflicts of interest\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe authors have no competing or conflict of interest to declare.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFunding:\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis work was supported by the Humanities and Social Sciences Project of Henan Provincial Department of Education (No.2023-ZZJH-057), the Soft Science Project of Xinyang (No.20230043), the Teacher Education Curriculum Reform Research Project in Henan Province (No.2023-JSJYZD-018), the Xinyang Normal University Youth Sustentation Fund Project (No.2023-QN-055) and the Xinyang Normal University Student Scientific Research Fund Project (No.2023-DXS-134).\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAuthor Contribution\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eLW, WH and FT contributed to the conceptualization, data curation, formal analysis, investigation, methodology, writing of the original manuscript. SR, QP, MY and QM contributed to data curation and methodology of the manuscript. ZL and QJ contributed to the data curation of the manuscript. MP, FW,GL and WZ contributed to the methodology, analysis plan, and write of the original manuscript.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAcknowledgements:\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eWe thank the interviewees for their participation in the survey.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvailability of data and materials\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eOur data were collected for the research group and are not publicly available. he datasets used and/or analysed during the current study available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eApuke OD, Omar B. Social media affordances and information abundance: Enabling fake news sharing during the COVID-19 health crisis. 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Comput Hum Behav. 2014;32:253\u0026ndash;60.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Social media, Information overload, Information avoidance༛College students in psychological distress༛Grounded theory","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-3909071/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-3909071/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBackground: \u003c/strong\u003eThe rapid expansion of social media has given rise to a myriad of challenges among college students facing psychological distress. An abundance of fragmented and repetitive information, often referred to as information overload, inundates users on social media platforms. This inundation presents significant hurdles for college students experiencing psychological distress when acquiring and processing information. This study investigates the associative mechanisms between information overload in the context of social media and information avoidance behaviors among college students experiencing psychological distress.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMethods:\u003c/strong\u003e From May to November 2023, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 college students experiencing psychological distress in a prefecture-level city in Henan Province, China, to collect textual data. Grounded theory was employed to conduct three-level coding of the 30 sets of textual data. Special emphasis was placed on analyzing the process of perceiving social media information overload. Subsequently, this analysis served as the foundation for constructing a factor model influencing information avoidance behaviors among college students experiencing psychological distress.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eResults:\u003c/strong\u003e The study findings indicate that, within the context of social media, college students experiencing psychological distress are prone to prolonged exposure to information overload, leading to the development of negative emotions such as anxiety and fatigue, subsequently resulting in dissatisfaction with social media. In order to alleviate these negative emotions, they employ information avoidance strategies. These strategies evolve from initially skipping or skimming information to eventually directly avoiding or even discontinuing the use of specific social media platforms. This process is not only closely linked to negative emotions but is also influenced by negative cognitive tendencies. Coupled with the role of virtual social satisfaction and social scarcity, it easily triggers social comparisons and the fear of missing out, resulting in a cyclic impact.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConclusions: \u003c/strong\u003eWithin the context of social media, information overload and information avoidance behaviors among college students experiencing psychological distress are subject to a cyclic influence stemming from negative emotions, negative cognitive tendencies, virtual social satisfaction and social scarcity, social comparisons, and the fear of missing out. This study explores the mechanisms underlying the impact of information overload and information avoidance behaviors among college students experiencing psychological distress within the context of social media. It offers valuable insights for the prevention and intervention of psychological crises among college students.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Research on the Mechanisms of Information Overload and Information Avoidance Behavior in College Students with Psychological Disorders in the Context of Social Media","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2024-02-01 09:11:10","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-3909071/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"5f4eac7e-3c54-4408-8659-700d366dc31c","owner":[],"postedDate":"February 1st, 2024","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2024-02-07T07:44:47+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2024-02-01 09:11:10","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-3909071","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-3909071","identity":"rs-3909071","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"qtupq5eGEP_6zYnWcrvyt","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}