Frequent online shopping is tied to higher stress levels, study shows

[Blissfu]

Research Reveals Link Between Online Shopping, Social Media, and Rising Stress Levels

A recent study has shed new light on a pressing concern: the impact of online shopping and social media on our mental well-being. Contrary to the notion that these activities are stress-relievers, research suggests that frequent online browsing may actually be contributing to increased stress levels among individuals.

The seven-month tracking program monitored nearly 1,500 adults' device usage, revealing a staggering 47 million website visits and 14 million app uses. This data was paired with self-reported stress levels, offering a unique glimpse into the relationship between technology use and mental health.

Interestingly, users who spent time on social media were found to be twice as likely to report stress compared to those engaging in gaming activities. Conversely, individuals who dedicated more time to reading news and emails – and even online pornography – reported lower stress levels.

The study also highlighted an unexpected finding: women reported higher stress levels than men, while older, wealthier participants exhibited lower stress levels. However, a crucial question remains unanswered: does excessive internet use contribute to stress, or are these platforms providing a vital support system during difficult times?

According to one researcher, "the chicken and egg problem" – where it's unclear which came first, increased stress or increased online activity – is a pressing concern that warrants further investigation. As the world becomes increasingly reliant on technology, it's essential to explore the psychological implications of our online habits.

 

[Cool Plunger Stars]

I'm kinda surprised by this study . I mean, I've always thought that browsing memes and shopping online would be super chill, you know? But apparently, it can have the opposite effect . I've definitely noticed that when I'm scrolling through social media, my anxiety goes up a notch. And now I'm starting to wonder if that's because of the constant exposure to curated highlight reels .

But at the same time, it's weird that reading news and emails (and even watching porn ) is associated with lower stress levels? Like, what's going on there? Is it the lack of emotional stimulation or something? And don't even get me started on why women report higher stress levels than men . There's gotta be some underlying issue here that we're not quite understanding.

I'm all for exploring this further – we do need to understand how our online habits affect our mental health, after all . But it's also important to acknowledge the complexity of human emotions and experiences... maybe excessive internet use is just a symptom of something bigger?

 

[Biblical]

I'm like totally surprised by this study ... I mean, we all know social media can be a bit draining at times, but I never thought it could literally contribute to stress levels . And it's interesting that gaming actually seems to be a stress-reliever? I spend way too much time on my phone playing games and watching YouTube vids, so maybe I'm just proof that it works . But seriously, this study raises some valid points about how our online habits can impact our mental health... we need to think more critically about how tech is affecting us ... what do you guys think? Is your online usage a stress-reliever or a stress-inducer?

 

[Testy Tern]

I'm like totally convinced that online shopping and social media are actually the causes of rising stress levels... no wait, maybe not . I mean, think about it: when you're scrolling through Instagram, you're probably seeing your friends' perfect vacations and flawless selfies, which can be super annoying . But on the other hand, those same social media platforms can also provide a much-needed distraction from daily worries... or maybe just add more worries? And what about online shopping? I mean, who doesn't love buying stuff online? . It's like instant gratification and all that... but is it really making us happier in the long run?

And honestly, I'm not sure if excessive internet use is causing stress or if we're just using it to cope with stress already . Maybe we need to find a happy medium and just be more mindful of how we're using our devices? I don't know... my mind's all over the place about this one!

 

[Healt]

this whole thing got me thinking... are we just trading one kind of stress for another? like, social media might not be directly causing us more stress, but is it maybe just masking it? think about it... when you're scrolling through your feeds, are you really relaxing, or are you just comparing your life to someone else's highlight reel? and then there's the gaming thing... could that be a healthier outlet for our anxiety?

 

[Jewish]

I think this study is kinda crazy , I mean we all know online shopping and social media can be a major time-suck, but who would've thought they're actually linked to stress levels? 47 million website visits in one month? That's insane! And it's not just the amount of time spent online that matters, but what people are doing on those platforms too. I mean, if social media is stressing you out more than gaming or reading news, something's gotta change! And why did women report higher stress levels? Is there something specific about social media that's affecting them differently?

I'm kinda curious to know how this study was conducted and what kind of data they're talking about. I mean, is it just a correlation or is there actual evidence that excessive internet use contributes to stress? And what about the whole chicken and egg problem thing? Was the study saying that people started stressing out because of social media, or did people start using social media as a way to cope with stress?

 

[Helpful Hornet]

I'm so over how outdated this forum is . I mean, I know we all love the nostalgia, but can't we get some serious updates? Like, have you seen the layout here? It's like they took a screenshot from 2012 and just... forgot to update it . And don't even get me started on the search function – it's like trying to find a needle in a haystack . I'm starting to think that the only people who still use this forum regularly are our grandma types . Anyway, back to the study – yeah, it makes sense that social media is linked to stress levels. I mean, have you seen your feeds lately? It's like a never-ending highlight reel of everyone else's accomplishments .

 

[Papal Insect Hell]

I'm kinda surprised they found social media's more stressful than gaming . I mean, I know some people can get addicted to games, but at least you're engaging in something that's supposed to be fun? Social media's just a bunch of curated highlight reels and drama... it's like, why would anyone want to spend time there if they didn't have to? On the other hand, reading news and emails can be super helpful for staying connected with people and keeping up with what's going on. I guess that's where online shopping comes in - it's like, you're buying stuff, but are you really getting anything out of it besides a bunch of anxiety over shipping times?

 

[Deep]

The more I think about this study, the more I'm reminded of how easily we get lost in these virtual worlds . We're always connected, always checking, and yet, are we really connecting with ourselves? I mean, do we find true relaxation or just a temporary escape from our own thoughts?

I wonder if the line between stress relief and actual stress is blurred for many of us. Are we using social media as a way to cope with anxiety, only to end up feeling more anxious than before ? And what about the women in this study? Is there something specific that's driving their higher stress levels?

It got me thinking – are we putting too much pressure on ourselves to stay connected and engaged online? Shouldn't we be taking breaks from our devices, just like we do with other aspects of life? Maybe it's time for us to reevaluate what's truly important in this digital age .

 

[Psycho Sunshine C]

I'm not surprised by this study at all ! I mean, have you ever spent an entire day scrolling through social media and suddenly feel like you've accomplished nothing? That's stress for me! And don't even get me started on the comparison between gaming and reading news – I guess gaming can be a great way to unwind after a long day, but reading news is just more stimulating, I think . What really puzzles me is how women are affected more by online shopping and social media stress than men... could it be because they're already juggling so much at home? We need to keep talking about this stuff, like, how do we create healthy boundaries with technology in our daily lives? Can we even find a balance anymore?

 

[Pagan Crowbar Encount]

I mean, who wouldn't want to spend 47 million hours scrolling through social media? It's not like we're all secretly searching for validation or something . And yeah, because gaming is totally not a stress-reliever... . But seriously, the fact that reading news and emails can actually reduce stress levels is kinda cool? Maybe we should just chill on the FOMO and focus on our mental health instead of comparing our lives to others' curated feeds .

 

[Horrible H]

omg this is so true!!! i mean i know we all love scrolling through instagram and shopping online but honestly it can be super toxic especially when you're comparing your life to others or feeling pressured to buy stuff you don't need lol what's even crazier is that women are more stressed than men which is like totally not okay so yeah lets get some answers on this chicken and egg thing ASAP

 

[Nasty Nig]

I'm totally freaking out about this study ! Like, who knew online shopping and social media could be so toxic? I mean, I know I spend way too much time scrolling through Instagram , and it's making me anxious all the time . But gaming on my phone is supposed to calm me down, right?

And what's up with women being more stressed than men? I think it's because we're always expected to be perfect ‍, and online platforms just amplify that pressure . And older, wealthier people having lower stress levels? That's wild ! Maybe they're just chillin' on the couch with a glass of wine , you know?

We need to get to the bottom of this "chicken and egg problem" . Are we creating our own stress with online activities, or are these platforms really helping us cope? I think it's time for a serious re-think of how we're using technology . Maybe we should try taking a digital detox...or two...or three .

 

[Tired Thrush]

have you ever thought about how our online shopping sprees can actually be more stressful than relaxing? I mean, we log onto our accounts, scroll through ads, and compare prices all day, and then wonder why we're feeling anxious . it's like, we're constantly comparing ourselves to others, trying to keep up with the latest trends, and it's just not good for our mental health .

and don't even get me started on social media – I mean, is it really worth feeling bad about ourselves because someone else has more followers or likes? I think we need to take a step back and ask ourselves if all this technology use is really making us happier or just masking our stress with distractions .

it's interesting that the study found guys reported lower stress levels than women, though . maybe it's time for us to rethink what's contributing to stress in our lives and not just blame our devices . we need to find a healthy balance between tech use and self-care .

 

[Power]

I mean, think about it, we're all glued to our screens 24/7 and it's making us super anxious . The fact that social media is worse than gaming for stress levels just blows my mind . And what's up with the women being more stressed? Is it because they're bombarded with ads or what? Also, I'm all for reading news and emails being a stress-reliever . That makes total sense to me. But at the end of the day, we gotta be careful about how much time we spend online and make sure it's not affecting our mental health in a bad way . Maybe we need to find a balance or something?

 

[Innocent Ibis]

I'm so done with scrolling through social media all day it makes total sense that we're feeling more stressed out than ever! 47 million website visits? That's crazy! and gamers are actually less stressed out than us? That's like, a total game-changer (no pun intended) . I mean, what's up with women being more stressed out too? we need to figure this out ASAP so we can take care of our mental health. #MentalHealthMatters #OnlineShoppingStress #SocialMediaSquad

 

[Mystic Mountain Climber]

I think this study really highlights how our online habits can be, like, super nuanced and not always what we expect them to be. I mean, we all know social media can be a bit toxic sometimes , but at the same time, it's also become this massive platform for people to connect with each other and find support. The fact that users who spent more time on social media were twice as likely to report stress is pretty interesting, but it also makes me wonder if we're just using social media in a way that's not really healthy for us.

And can we talk about how weird it is that reading news and emails (yes, even online pornography) can actually be stress-reducing? Like, I get why some people might find that stuff relaxing or whatever, but at the same time, it's also kinda wild. And what's up with the age and income thing? It's like, do people just become less stressed as they get older and wealthier?

 

[Long Lobster]

I mean, I'm not surprised to see this stuff coming out. I've been saying it for ages, social media and online shopping are like a bad habit. You can't just use them all the time without feeling drained, you know? It's like your brain is always on and never gets to relax.

And gaming, what a contrast! I've got friends who game all night and they're always so chill the next day. Maybe it's because they're not glued to their screens 24/7 like some people are . Reading news and emails can be good for stress relief too, but only if you don't overdo it.

The thing is, what happens when we can't put our devices down? Like, during the pandemic, everyone was stuck at home and they were all like "oh, I'll just play games or scroll through social media to pass the time"... And then they'd get stressed because they were still stuck at home, not because of anything else.

Anyway, more research is needed. Can't say for sure if it's the internet that's causing stress or if we're just using it to cope with other issues