¹Abigail Anna George, ²Riddhi Bansal

^1,2Amity School of Social Sciences, Amity University Mohali, Punjab, 140306, India.

DOI : https://doi.org/10.58806/ijsshmr.2025.v4i12n28

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ABSTRACT

In this era of endless scrolling, attention has become one of our most valuable yet fragile human resources. Short-form video platforms deliver fast-paced, and emotionally charged content that can subtly reshape how individuals process emotions, control impulses, and pursue long-term goals. This study examines how short-form video consumption relates to emotion regulation, impulsivity and the ability to delay gratification among young adults. A sample of 32 participants between the ages of 18-26 were surveyed using standardized self-report questionnaires. The questionnaires measured levels of emotion regulation, impulsivity and the ability to delay gratification in relation with the number of hours such content was consumed for in a day. Correlational analysis revealed a significant positive relationship between increased content consumption and impulsivity, which suggests that higher exposure to short-form videos may correspond to increased impulsive tendencies. While emotion regulation and delay of gratification showed no statistically significant correlation within the sample used, the results do suggest an inverse relationship between the variables, which warrants further exploration. These findings highlight the ever-growing psychological implications of digital media habits, and emphasize the importance of understanding how high-stimulation, and instant gratification media environments may influence self-regulatory capacities which are essential for adaptive functioning in adults.

KEYWORDS:

Short-Form Videos, Emotion Regulation, Impulsivity, Delaying Gratification, Young Adults

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VOlUME 04 ISSUE 12 December 2025