Fundamentals of Mental Health

Fundamentals of Mental Health

Short video addiction and risky decision-making behavior among university students

Document Type : Research Paper

Author
Mohamad Mehdi Hasanshahi
Department of Psychology, Arsanjan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Arsanjan, Iran.
10.22038/jfmh.2026.90161.3270
Abstract
Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the impact of Short Video Addiction (SVA) on risky decision-making behavior among university students.
Materials and Methods: The statistical population of this cross-sectional study comprised undergraduate and graduate students at Islamic Azad University, Arsanjan-Iran in the academic year of 2024-2025. A sample of 128 participants was selected using multi-stage cluster sampling and divided into SVA and non-addicted groups. Data were collected using the Short Video Addiction Scale (SVAS) and the Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART). We analyzed the data using multivariate analysis of covariance and univariate analysis of variance.
Results: The results indicated a significant overall difference in risky decision-making behavior between the SVA and non-addicted groups, after controlling for age and sex (F(3,122)= 34759.322, P< 0.001, Partial = 0.999). Follow-up univariate analyses confirmed that the addicted group demonstrated a significantly higher average pumps for unexploded balloons (risk-taking) (F(1,124)= 893.17, P< 0.001, Partial = 0.878) and a significantly lower number of balloons with collected earnings (risk management) (F(1,124)= 606.73, P< 0.001, Partial = 0.830). Furthermore, age had a significant effect on risky decision-making behavior, while sex did not show a significant impact.
Conclusion: Short video addiction is strongly associated with increased risky decision-making behavior and reduced risk management in university students. These findings underscore the critical need for developing prevention and intervention programs targeting this behavioral addiction and promoting safe decision-making skills within the young adult population.
Keywords
Behavioral addiction
Decision-making
Risk
Youth
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Fundamentals of Mental Health
Volume 28, Issue 3
May and June 2026
Pages 169-175