Digital Empathy Fatigue (DEF): The Psychometric Measurement and Social Cognitive Impact of Chronic Exposure to Vicarious Digital Distress

Kodukula Venkata Lakshmi Prudhvila

Abstract: The ubiquitous nature of digital media exposes the general population to unprecedented levels of vicarious global distress, a phenomenon not fully captured by existing constructs like Compassion Fatigue. This paper introduces and validates the concept of Digital Empathy Fatigue (DEF), defined as the measurable psychological state resulting from the cognitive and emotional overload induced by continuous, high-volume digital vicarious exposure, leading to emotional detachment, desensitization, and reduced prosocial motivation. Through a mixed-methods approach involving psychometric scale development (The DEF Scale) and behavioural observation (digital scroll patterns, cognitive task performance) conducted exclusively in Visakhapatnam, India, we demonstrate that high (DEF) scores are associated with active avoidance of distressing content and measurable deficits in executive function. Findings suggest DEF is a unique public mental health concern that depletes cognitive resources and erodes the collective capacity for proactive engagement, necessitating the development of digital emotional resilience interventions specific to this context.

Keywords: Digital Empathy Fatigue (DEF), Cognitive Load, Vicarious Distress, Psychometric Validation, Prosocial Cynicism

How to Cite?: Kodukula Venkata Lakshmi Prudhvila, "Digital Empathy Fatigue (DEF): The Psychometric Measurement and Social Cognitive Impact of Chronic Exposure to Vicarious Digital Distress", Volume 14 Issue 11, November 2025, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 307-311, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR251031162956, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR251031162956