This is Too Much! Social media integration and adults’ psychological distress: the mediating role of cyber and place-based information overload

The present study examined the predictive role of social media use on adults’ psychological distress through the mediating role of one of the digital stress factors, i.e. information overload. A sample of 295 participants aged 18–41 (M age = 21.15, SD = 3.67, 82% females) filled out self-reported questionnaires measuring social media integration, anxiety, depression, and stress symptoms, as well as cyber-based and place-based information overload. Results suggested significant associations between social media integration and emotional connection, cyber-based information overload, and psychological distress symptoms. Cyber-based information overload was positively associated with place-based information overload and psychological distress symptoms. SEM analyses suggested a partial positive and statistically significant mediation between social integration and emotional connection and psychological distress by information overload: high scores on social integration and emotional connection were marginally positively associated with high scores on information overload and with high scores on psychological distress as direct effects. However, on the second mediation path, high scores on information overload were positively associated with high scores on psychological distress, but no significant total effect was observed. We discuss the present findings considering their implications for digital stress awareness and practical strategies for preventing information overload-related negative outcomes.