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Peer-reviewedCC BY-NC-NDPsikiyatride Güncel Yaklaşımlar

Digital Fugue: Conceptualizing Situation-Specific Digital Escape in the Context of Social Anxiety and Societal Pressures

  • Yalçın Kanbay1
  • Elçin Babaoğlu2
  • Aysun Akçam3
  • Aydan Akkurt Yalçıntürk4
4 affiliations
  1. 1ARTVIN CORUH UNIVERSITY
  2. 2ÜSKÜDAR ÜNİVERSİTESİ
  3. 3KIRŞEHİR AHİ EVRAN ÜNİVERSİTESİ
  4. 4sağlık bilimleri üniversitesi hamidiye hemşirelik fakültesi
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Abstract

Objective: This study aims to examine individuals’ experiences of turning to digital devices in response to social anxiety and societal pressures they encounter in daily life. Method: The research is a qualitative study conducted using a phenomenological design. Data were collected through semi-structured focus group interviews with 12 participants selected using purposive sampling. The interviews focused on identifying the contexts in which participants turned to digital devices and the emotional and social motivations behind their use. Results: The analysis revealed four main themes: (1) turning to digital devices to avoid social interaction and social pressure, (2) mentally distancing oneself from external stressors, (3) using digital devices as a means of mental escape and anxiety regulation, and (4) the situational and temporary nature of this tendency. Participants reported experiencing a form of mental withdrawal—without disconnecting from their physical surroundings—by using digital devices as a psychological shield in crowded and anxiety-inducing environments. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that individuals’ behavior in turning to digital devices cannot be fully explained by existing concepts based on digital addiction and pathology.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{kanbay2026digital,
  title = {{Digital Fugue: Conceptualizing Situation-Specific Digital Escape in the Context of Social Anxiety and Societal Pressures}},
  author = {Yalçın Kanbay and Elçin Babaoğlu and Aysun Akçam and Aydan Akkurt Yalçıntürk},
  journal = {Psikiyatride Güncel Yaklaşımlar},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.18863/pgy.1896550},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.18863/pgy.1896550},
  note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Digital Fugue: Conceptualizing Situation-Specific Digital Escape in the Context of Social Anxiety and Societal Pressures
AU  - Yalçın Kanbay
AU  - Elçin Babaoğlu
AU  - Aysun Akçam
AU  - Aydan Akkurt Yalçıntürk
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/25
JO  - Psikiyatride Güncel Yaklaşımlar
DO  - 10.18863/pgy.1896550
UR  - https://doi.org/10.18863/pgy.1896550
AB  - Objective: This study aims to examine individuals’ experiences of turning to digital devices in response to social anxiety and societal pressures they encounter in daily life. Method: The research is a qualitative study conducted using a phenomenological design. Data were collected through semi-structured focus group interviews with 12 participants selected using purposive sampling. The interviews focused on identifying the contexts in which participants turned to digital devices and the emotional and social motivations behind their use. Results: The analysis revealed four main themes: (1) turning to digital devices to avoid social interaction and social pressure, (2) mentally distancing oneself from external stressors, (3) using digital devices as a means of mental escape and anxiety regulation, and (4) the situational and temporary nature of this tendency. Participants reported experiencing a form of mental withdrawal—without disconnecting from their physical surroundings—by using digital devices as a psychological shield in crowded and anxiety-inducing environments. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that individuals’ behavior in turning to digital devices cannot be fully explained by existing concepts based on digital addiction and pathology.
SN  - 1309-0674
SN  - 1309-0658
ER  -