The Impact of Learned Helplessness on Social Media-Induced Secondary Traumatic Stress: Mediation by Religious Coping and Moderation by Quality of Life

Authors : Rahime Eymen Bakır, Muhammet Enes Vural

Pages : 239-260

Doi:10.12730/is.1676110

View : 198 | Download : 348

Publication Date : 2025-12-31

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :The use of social media, which has rapidly increased in recent years, directly or indirectly affects people\\\'s mental health. This study aims to determine the effect of learned helplessness (LH) on social media-induced secondary traumatic stress (STS-SM), and the role of quality of life and religious coping in this relationship in Türkiye. This cross-sectional study sample consisted of 397 Turkish Muslim adults. Results revealed significant links among LH, negative religious coping (NRC), and quality of life, with STS-SM. Moderation analyses revealed that perceived high quality of life moderated the positive effect of LH on STS-SM, while mediation analyses revealed that NRC partially mediated this relationship. The results support that disturbing content on social media can trigger traumatic stress, especially in individuals who feel helpless, and turn to negative religious coping, but the perceived high quality of life has a buffering effect.
Keywords : İkincil travmatik stres, sosyal medya, öğrenilmiş çaresizlik, dini başa çıkma, yaşam kalitesi

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