Hidden Cost of Constant Connectivity: Digital Burnout and Its Interpersonal Pathways to Emotion Dysregulation among Young Adults

Abstract

Growing access to digital devices and its continuous usage poses a threat of Digital Burnout. While digital burnout is associated with emotional difficulties, social processes that may explain this relationship remain less known. Social isolation and loneliness are conceptually distinct but are often treated as similar. The study examined how social isolation (objective lack of social connection) and loneliness (subjective perception of being alone) could help explain the relationship between digital burnout and emotion dysregulation. Data were collected from 303 Indian adults aged 18-44 years using self-report measures. Serial mediation analysis indicated that higher digital burnout was associated with higher difficulty in regulating emotions. This relationship was independently explained by loneliness but not by social isolation. However, social isolation acted as a contributor to loneliness, which in turn was linked to emotion dysregulation. Findings suggest the role of individual perception may be an important determinant for emotional functioning than mere presence or absence of social contact. Understanding this distinction can help curate better interventions aimed at promoting digital well-being and emotional health.