Digital Emotion Regulation Strategies and Perceived Stress Among Young Adults: A Quantitative Study
Abstract: The present quantitative study investigated digital emotion-regulation strategies (DER) and perceived stress among young adults in India. A cross-sectional correlational design was employed with young adults aged 18 to 30 years (N = 103; 84.47% female, 15.53% male) who regularly utilize smartphones or digital devices. Data collection involved a socio-digital-use information sheet, the Digital Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), and the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). Descriptive and inferential statistics- including independent-samples t tests, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Pearson correlation, and simple linear regression- were applied. The sample exhibited a mean DER score of 25.54 (SD = 4.61) and a mean PSS score of 19.18 (SD = 4.91), with moderate levels being the most prevalent for both variables (69.90% and 78.64%, respectively). While gender and age differences were not statistically significant, daily screen-time categories demonstrated significant differences for both DER, F (3, 99) = 3.52, p = .018, and PSS, F (3, 99) = 3.24, p = .025, with individuals using screens for more than six hours daily reporting the highest means. Furthermore, DER was significantly and positively correlated with perceived stress, r = .369, p 2 = .136, F (1, 101) = 16.16, p
Keywords: Digital Emotion Regulation, Perceived Stress, Young Adults, Smartphones, Emotion Regulation, Digital Technology
How to Cite?: Arshidha E. M., "Digital Emotion Regulation Strategies and Perceived Stress Among Young Adults: A Quantitative Study", Volume 15 Issue 10, October 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 1549-1555, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR261022125432, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR261022125432