Just Ask Me About It! Antecedents of Vague Booking and Cyber-Gossip,and the Link With Psychological Distress

Abstract

The present study examined the link between anti-mattering, loneliness, and psychological distress (i.e., depression, anxiety, and stress). Additionally, we also examined the roles of vague booking and cyber-gossip within these relationships. Our convenience sample comprised 537 adults aged 18 to 66 (M = 24.27, SD = 8.66, 78.77% females) who completed an online survey. The results suggested that higher anti-mattering, loneliness, and cyber-gossip scores were significant predictors of higher psychological distress. Increased loneliness was associated with higher vague booking, which mediated the link between loneliness and cyber-gossip. Also, higher cyber-gossip was associated with higher vague booking. Vague booking and cyber-gossip were successive mediators of the effect of loneliness on psychological distress, partially mediating the positive association and this effect. These findings underscore the importance of recognizing specific social media behaviors as potential indicators of emotional vulnerability and distress. Theoretical and practical implications include integrating vague booking and cyber-gossip into digital mental health screening tools and designing interventions that address unmet psychological needs, such as mattering and connection in online contexts.