How ADHD Symptoms Fuel Compulsive Short-Video Scrolling

It is a scenario familiar to many: you open a phone app intending to check one notification, and suddenly, two hours have vanished.

Your thumb has been flicking upward in a rhythmic trance, fed by an algorithm that knows exactly what keeps you watching.

While this “doomscrolling” affects everyone, for adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), the pull of short-video platforms like TikTok or Instagram Reels can feel nearly impossible to resist.

New research suggests that this isn’t just a matter of poor self-discipline; it is a complex interplay of cognitive and emotional needs.

A recent study involving 563 adults used advanced statistical modeling to unpack exactly why the ADHD brain finds these apps so sticky.

The researchers discovered that while ADHD generally predicts problematic video use, the reason for the scrolling depends heavily on which symptoms are dominant.

The Perfect Digital Trap

Short-video platforms are essentially engineered to hijack the reward system.

They offer brief, vertical videos with personalized recommendations that provide a constant stream of novel stimuli.

For a neurotypical brain, this is engaging; for an ADHD brain, it is often a “perfect storm.”

The study defines “Problematic Short-Video Use” (PSVU) not just as watching videos, but as excessive, compulsive consumption that interferes with daily life and emotional well-being.

The researchers found that adults with ADHD are more vulnerable to this specific form of digital addiction because these platforms offer immediate gratification—a quick dopamine fix that the ADHD brain inherently craves.

However, the study revealed that the path to addiction splits in two directions depending on the type of ADHD symptoms present.

Inattention: The Boredom Loop

For individuals whose ADHD manifests primarily as inattention (IA), the drive to scroll is rooted in a struggle with boredom.

The study found that inattention increases susceptibility to boredom proneness—a state where the individual feels dissatisfied and unengaged with their current environment.

Inattentive brains often struggle to maintain focus on slow or under-stimulating tasks.

When the real world feels “under-arousing,” the brain seeks a quick way to fill the void.

The research showed that for these individuals, boredom proneness was the primary bridge connecting their ADHD symptoms to problematic video use.

A simple swipe of the finger offers a constant, low-effort stream of novelty that temporarily alleviates that painful sense of boredom.

Hyperactivity: The Emotional Escape

The story changes for those with high levels of hyperactivity-impulsivity (HI).

While they also struggle with boredom, their path to compulsive scrolling is paved with emotional turbulence.

The study found that hyperactivity is strongly linked to difficulties with “cognitive reappraisal“—an emotion regulation strategy where you change how you think about a situation to alter its emotional impact.

Because they struggle to regulate their emotions internally, these individuals often experience higher levels of “emotional distress,” such as anxiety and depression.

In this context, scrolling isn’t just about killing time; it is a coping mechanism.

The research suggests that for the hyperactive-impulsive brain, short videos provide a way to soothe negative emotions or escape from overwhelming feelings they cannot otherwise manage.

The “I-PACE” Effect

The researchers framed their findings using the I-PACE model (Interaction of Person-Affect-Cognition-Execution).

This psychological framework suggests that addiction isn’t a single event, but a chain reaction.

For someone with ADHD, the “Person” (their specific symptoms) triggers “Affect and Cognition” (emotional distress or boredom), which leads to the “Execution” (compulsive scrolling).

Interestingly, the study found a “serial mediating effect” where these factors compound each other.

Poor emotion regulation can lead to distress, which increases boredom, which then leads to scrolling.

Boredom, in this view, isn’t just a passive state; it acts as a “motivational driver” pushing the person toward the phone for relief.

Why it matters

Understanding that there are two distinct roads to the same addiction is crucial for anyone trying to break the cycle.

Standard advice to “just put the phone away” often fails because it ignores the underlying psychological drive.

This research implies that effective strategies must be tailored to the specific type of ADHD symptom driving the behavior.

• For the Inattentive Scroller: The solution lies in managing boredom. The brain needs stimulation, so replacing the phone with “attention-demanding activities with interesting stimuli” is more effective than trying to sit still.
• For the Impulsive Scroller: The solution lies in emotion regulation. Interventions should focus on training strategies like cognitive reappraisal to manage anxiety and distress, reducing the need to use the phone as a pacifier.

By recognizing whether you are scrolling to wake up your brain or to calm it down, you can choose a tool that actually fixes the problem, rather than just distracting you from it.

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Next Step for You: If you find yourself stuck in a scrolling loop, try to identify your trigger: Are you bored and under-stimulated (Inattention), or are you anxious and avoiding a feeling (Hyperactivity)? Naming the urge is the first step to controlling it.