A proposed explanatory theory in digital media: Approach-avoidance media theory and direct evidence from three empirical studies

Abstract

The new phenomenon (co-occurrence between digital stress and digital addiction) has become increasingly prominent. However, few theories can provide adequate explanations. This study developed a new theory, approach-avoidance media theory (AAMT), and designed three empirical studies to demonstrate it. This study proposes AAMT through analogical abduction to analogize approach-avoidance conflict theory in animal models and humans. The AAMT proposes 5 principles: (1) digital media use can lead to three phenomena: addictive use, avoidant use, and approach-avoidance conflict use; (2) people experience psychological tension when facing approach-avoidance conflict use; (3) they might choose different strategies to cope; (4) addictive and avoidant use can be mutually reinforcing; (5) addictive and avoidant use can only occur with the same type of digital media. Empirical studies confirmed that (1) for smartphone use, there were adolescents with only highly addictive smartphone use, adolescents with only highly avoidant use, and adolescents with approach-avoidance use; (2) in the present and future, high approach-avoidance use predicted low mental health and adolescents with high approach-avoidance use showed more maladaptive coping strategies; (3) smartphone addiction and stress predicted each other in the cross-lagged model. Besides, a psycho-behavioral-social model was proposed based on AAMT, implications and future directions are discussed.