Abstract
In the context of rapid digitalization, chronic stress among Kazakh university students is becoming an increasingly urgent psychological problem for psychologists. Students are exposed to a variety of stress factors. For example, academic requirements, adaptation to new social roles, lack of confidence in oneself and in one’s professional future, and constant information pressure. At the same time, the consumption of digital media has increased and is very often used not only for communication and entertainment. But also as a means of emotional regulation and psychological distraction. The purpose of our study was to analyze the relationship between the level of chronic stress and the peculiarities of digital media consumption by students of Kazakhstani universities. The study involved senior students aged 18-19 years. The level of chronic stress was assessed using a standardized stress scale. The features of digital media consumption were studied using an author’s questionnaire developed by us, which focused on the time spent on social networks, as well as the use of digital content as a means of distracting from stressful experiences. Data processing also included methods for analyzing relationships and group differences. The findings suggest that higher levels of chronic stress are associated with more intense and frequent consumption of digital media. Students experiencing increased stress are more likely to use digital technology as a psychological distraction. Therefore, this may reflect an avoidance strategy. We came to the conclusion that the use of digital media can be considered as a compensatory form of overcoming chronic stress among students. It is important to understand that the results obtained emphasize the importance of further research on the role of digital behavior in stress regulation and student well-being.