Self-control and need satisfaction in primetime: television, social media, and friends can enhance regulatory resources via perceived autonomy and competence.
Open accessAbstract
The relationship between self-control and media use is complicated. Loss of self-control capacity has been linked to generally higher levels of media use, which might represent self-regulatory failure, but could also be attempts at replenishing self-control. Indeed, self-determination theory proposes that satisfying intrinsic psychological needs (autonomy, competence, and relatedness), for example via media use, aids the recovery of self-control. In this 2-wave survey (N = 395), we examined the interplay of users’ self-control capacity and their perceived satisfaction of autonomy, competence, and relatedness needs via media use and alternative leisure activities. Satisfaction of intrinsic needs during leisure activities increased self-control capacity at the end of the evening. Feelings of autonomy and competence during TV and social media use, and competence during socializing, positively contributed to greater self-control. However, respondents with less self-control capacity before primetime experienced less intrinsic need satisfaction while engaged with TV, social media, reading, sports, and socializing, diminishing self-control at bedtime. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)
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- Authors
- Johnson, B. K., Eden, A., Reinecke, L., & Hartmann, T.
- Venue
- Psychology of Popular Media
- Published
- 2021-04
- Volume
- 10
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 212-222
- ISSN
- 2689-6567 (ISSN-L)
- 2689-6575
- OpenAlex
- W2751467949
- Cited by
- 23
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 1
- FWCI
- 28.84
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- research.vu.nl
- Licence
- other-oa
- Locations
- Psychology of Popular Media (publishedVersion)
- VU Research Portal (publishedVersion, other-oa)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Literature and Literary Theory › Media Influence and Health
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Motivation and Self-Concept in Sports
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Behavioral Health and Interventions
- Keywords
- self-control, self-determination theory, intrinsic motivation, need satisfaction, autonomy, competence, relatedness, television viewing, social media use, leisure, socializing, bedtime, self-regulation
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