The Experience of Short Video Addiction Among College Students

The Experience of Short Video Addiction Among College Students:A Dual-Framework Directed Content Analysis

This qualitative study aims to explore the experience of short-video addiction among college students using a directed content analysis approach grounded in the integrated framework of the Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) theory and the Temporal Self-Regulation Theory (TST).

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Behavior, Addictive; College Student
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Semistructured interview

Detailed Description

Short-form videos have become one of the most popular ways for people to entertain and relax. However, the intense interest in short-form videos has given rise to short-video addiction, which poses risks to both physical and mental health of individuals. As undergraduates constitute a key user group of short-form videos, the associated adverse outcomes of short-form video addiction-including poor sleep, physical discomfort, academic procrastination, anxiety, and impaired self-regulation-call for increased attention.Understanding its underlying mechanisms is therefore critical, yet existing quantitative studies lack contextual depth, and qualitative research remains sparse and theoretically fragmented.To address this gap, this qualitative study will use directed content analysis grounded in an integrated Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) and Temporal Self-Regulation Theory (TST) framework. Eligible full-time college students will complete semi-structured interviews exploring triggering stimuli, emotional/cognitive responses, behavioral consequences, time perception, future self-connection, and self-regulatory failures. The study will produce a theory-driven, empirically grounded model of short video addiction formation, informing targeted prevention and intervention strategies for this high-risk population.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 30

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Wei Xia; Phone Number: 18823359471; Email: xiaw23@mail.sysu.edu.cn
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Yuke Zhu; Phone Number: 18001559380; Email: ZhuKke041@163.com

Study Locations

• China
  • Guangdong
    • Guangzhou, Guangdong, China, 510080
      • XIAW

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: N/A

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population will consist of full-time college students (including associate degree, bachelor's degree, and graduate students) recruited from universities in China. Participants will be purposively selected based on their scores on the College Student Short Video Addiction Scale. Those who answer "yes" to 4 or more diagnostic items on the scale will be included, indicating a pattern of problematic short video use. Individuals with severe mental disorders or major cognitive impairment participation will be excluded.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Full-time college students (including associate degree, bachelor's degree, and graduate students)
• Answer "yes" to 4 or more diagnostic items on the College Student Short Video Addiction Scale
• Willing to participate voluntarily and provide written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Those with severe mental or cognitive impairments who are unable to participate in the interview.
• Refusal to participate in the study

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Intervention / Treatment

College students with short video addiction; Full-time college students (associate, bachelor, or graduate) who meet the screening criterion of 4 or more affirmative responses on the College Student Short Video Addiction Scale.

Other: Semistructured interview; A qualitative design using directed content analysis will be employed. Participants will be full-time college students who meet the screening criteria based on the College Student Short Video Addiction Scale. A semi-structured interview approach will be adopted to collect data on aspects such as the history of college students' use of short videos, triggering situations, emotional and cognitive experiences, self-regulation strategies, and perceived impacts.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Qualitative Experience of Short Video Addiction	Thematic patterns of short video addiction based on the integrated S-O-R and TST framework, including triggering stimuli, emotional/cognitive experiences, behavioral responses, time perception distortion, future self-connection, and self-regulatory failure.	At the time of interview

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Sun Yat-sen University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Wei Xia, Sun Yat-sen University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): May 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 1, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 1, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): May 7, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 7, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 1, 2026
• Last Verified: March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Qualitative Research; college student; Short video addiction; Stimulus-Organism-Response Theory; Temporal Self-Regulation Theory
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Compulsive Behavior; Impulsive Behavior; Behavior; Behavior, Addictive
• Other Study ID Numbers: SVA-DCA-2026

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No