Development and validation of a short doomscrolling scale

Section: Sociology of Journalism

This article presents the development and validation of a short doomscrolling scale, conceptualized as excessive consumption of negative news that affects individuals’ emotional state. A five-item scale is proposed, partly based on the components model of behavioral addictions and the diagnostic criteria for addictions (DSM-5). The quality of the instrument is tested using data from a nationally representative Russian survey conducted in spring 2025 (N = 6041). The distribution of responses demonstrates a “stepwise” pattern. There is relatively high agreement with statements about constant consumption of negative content (22%) and maintaining the same level of consumption despite an awareness of its harmful effects (26%). Lower support is observed for items capturing withdrawal-like symptoms (9%) and news-related functional impairments (10%). Accordingly, the scale is appropriate for assessing the severity of doomscrolling. The instrument demonstrates acceptable internal consistency (α = 0.741), which is stable across different socio-demographic groups. All items make a meaningful contribution to the measurement of doomscrolling; removing any individual statement reduces the internal consistency of the scale. The instrument has a unidimensional structure: all items show sufficient communalities and high factor loadings. Three levels of doomscrolling are distinguished (absent, moderate, and pronounced), with higher levels associated with an increased share of respondents reporting nervous disorders, use of tranquilizers and antidepressants, as well as heightened anxiety about the future. The study concludes that the scale is suitable for diagnosing doomscrolling and identifying risk groups.

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To cite this article: Kazun A. D. (2026) Korotkaya shkala dumskrollinga: razrabotka i aprobatsiya [Development and validation of a short doomscrolling scale]. Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta. Seriya 10. Zhurnalistika 1: 3–35. DOI: 10.55959/msu.vestnik.journ.1.2026.335 DOI: