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Cited by 0Impact of Technology on AdolescentsPerfectionism, Procrastination, Anxiety StudiesCyberloafing and Workplace Behavior

State Boredom and Procrastination in Gen Z: The Mediating Role of Social Media Addiction

Open access
Deepak, Anuraddha, Rudrappa, Shamala·2026·International Journal of Interdisciplinary Approaches in Psychology
DOI 10.61113/ijiap.v4i6.1565
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Abstract

This study examined the mediating role of social media addiction in the relationship between state boredom and procrastination among Generation Z participants.

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This correlational study of 119 Generation Z participants found that state boredom, social media addiction, and procrastination were positively correlated, and that social media addiction partially mediated the boredom–procrastination relationship. The indirect effect accounted for 56.2% of the total effect, while the direct effect of state boredom on procrastination remained significant.

Key findings

  • All three variables were positively correlated (r = .515–.702, p < .01): state boredom–social media addiction r = .515, state boredom–procrastination r = .553, and social media addiction–procrastination r = .702.
  • Social media addiction partially mediated the relationship between state boredom and procrastination: indirect effect B = 3.53, p < .001, accounting for 56.2% of the total effect; direct effect B = 2.75, p = .017; total effect B = 6.29, p < .001.
  • State boredom significantly predicted social media addiction (a = 2.80, p < .001), and social media addiction significantly predicted procrastination (b = 1.26, p < .001).
  • Descriptives: state boredom M = 4.40, SD = 0.91; social media addiction M = 19.98, SD = 4.93; procrastination M = 41.49, SD = 10.71.

Methods

  • Correlational design using convenience sampling of 119 Generation Z participants aged 14–29 years (91 females, 26 males, 1 other; 55 post-graduates, 45 undergraduates, 18 high school students).
  • Measures: Multidimensional State Boredom Scale (MSBS; 29 items, Cronbach’s α = .95), Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS; 6 items, α = .88), and Pure Procrastination Scale (PPS; 12 items, α = .92).
  • Main analysis: Pearson correlation and bootstrapped mediation analysis.

Limitations

  • Stated by the paper: self-report measures may introduce response bias and social desirability effects; the correlational design prevents causal conclusions and longitudinal research is needed; convenience sampling limits generalizability; the sample was predominantly female (76.5%); and developmental/contextual differences between Generation Z age subgroups were not explored separately.
  • Evident from the text: the cross-sectional correlational design and single convenience sample mean temporal ordering and causal mediation cannot be established, and the sample size (N = 119) may limit precision and broader generalizability.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.61113/ijiap.v4i6.1565

Cites

16 of 16 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

2 of 2 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged · accuracy not yet measured

  • Premisecitation

    The mechanism through which state boredom translates into procrastination remains empirically underexplored, particularly among Generation Z.

    “While prior research has independently established significant associations between boredom, social media addiction, and procrastination, the mechanism through which state boredom translates into procrastination remains empirically underexplored, particularly among Generation Z (Xie et al., 2023;Tang & He, 2025).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim2 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Xie et al., 2023 source

      The Introduction (page unavailable) says little is known about how short-form video addiction affects academic procrastination; its boredom-proneness subsection identifies a separate gap about boredom proneness moderating effects on attentional control. The Methods (page unavailable) measure boredom proneness as a trait, not state boredom. Searches for a state-boredom-to-procrastination mechanism and Generation Z found no passage addressing the claimed gap. (LLM, conf=0.73)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
    • cites Tang & He, 2025 source

      The Discussion section links social media addiction with academic procrastination and mentions boredom as a possible consequence of heavy social media use. It does not address whether the mechanism from state boredom to procrastination is empirically underexplored, particularly among Generation Z (searched: state boredom, Generation Z, research gap). No page numbers are available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.76)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Findingown data

    Participants reported a moderately high mean level of state boredom (M = 4.40, SD = 0.91).

    “Participants reported a moderately high mean level of state boredom (M = 4.40, SD = 0.91)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Participants' mean procrastination score was 41.49 (SD = 10.71), reflecting considerable procrastination tendencies within the sample.

    “Additionally, the mean procrastination score (M = 41.49,SD = 10.71)reflected considerable procrastination tendencies within the sample.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingown data

    The direct effect of state boredom on procrastination remained significant after including the mediator (B = 2.75, p = .017).

    “while the direct effect of state boredom on procrastination also remained significant (B = 2.75, p = .017).”
    • Also stated in: § 3. Results · plain
      “The direct effect of state boredom on procrastination remained statistically significant after including the mediator (c' = 2.75, p = .017)”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    The indirect effect of state boredom on procrastination through social media addiction was significant (B = 3.53, p < .001).

    “with a significant indirect effect (B = 3.53, p < .001)”
    • Also stated in: § 4. Discussion · plain
      “Indirect | 3.53 | 0.751 | 2.215 | 5.01 | 4.71 <.001 | 56.2”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 4
  • May combine two claims. 4

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductnone given

    The developmental and contextual differences between age subgroups of Generation Z were not explored separately and may obscure important differences in the relationships between the study variables.

    “The developmental and contextual differences between age subgroups of Generation Z were not explored separately and may obscure important differences in the relationships between the study variables.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductreasoning

    The use of self-report measures may result in response bias and social desirability effects that could influence the accuracy of participants' responses.

    “The study used self-report measures, and this can result in response bias and social desirability effects that could influence the accuracy of participants' responses.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given

    The use of convenience sampling may restrict the generalizability of the findings to the broader Generation Z population across diverse geographical and socio-cultural contexts.

    “The use of convenience sampling may restrict the generalizability of the findings to the broader Generation Z population across diverse geographical and socio-cultural contexts.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    State boredom influences procrastination through two distinct pathways: directly by reducing motivation and increasing task aversiveness, and indirectly by driving individuals toward addictive social media use, which subsequently reinforces procrastination.

    “Taken together, these findings indicate that state boredom influences procrastination through two distinct pathways: directly by reducing motivation and increasing task aversiveness, and indirectly, by driving individuals toward addictive social media use, which subsequently reinforces procrastination.”
    • Also stated in: § 4. Discussion · hedged
      “This suggests that state boredom influences procrastination through two pathways: directly, by reducing motivation and increasing task aversiveness, and indirectly, by driving individuals toward addictive social media use, which subsequently reinforces procrastination.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Individuals experiencing boredom are motivated to seek sources of stimulation to alleviate discomfort.
    • Rests on an assumption: Repeated reliance on social media as an emotional coping strategy may, over time, contribute to compulsive and uncontrolled usage.
    • Rests on an assumption: In the current digital environment, social media platforms are a primary outlet for relief from boredom, offering personalized content and gratification.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductreasoning

    Due to the correlational research design, it was not possible to draw causal conclusions between the variables; longitudinal research would be required to establish the causal order of the relationships.

    “Due to the correlational research design, it was not possible to draw causal conclusions between the variables; longitudinal research would be required to establish the causal order of the relationships.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    Procrastination among Generation Z is not merely a consequence of poor time management but is deeply influenced by emotional and behavioral factors, with state boredom as a key emotional trigger and social media addiction as an important behavioral pathway.

    “Taken together, the findings of the present study highlight that procrastination among Generation Z is not merely a consequence of poor time management but is deeply influenced by emotional and behavioral factors.State boredom serves as a key emotional trigger, while social media addiction functions as an important behavioral pathway through which procrastination is reinforced.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Individuals experiencing boredom are motivated to seek sources of stimulation to alleviate discomfort.
    • Rests on an assumption: Repeated reliance on social media as an emotional coping strategy may, over time, contribute to compulsive and uncontrolled usage.
    • Rests on an assumption: In the current digital environment, social media platforms are a primary outlet for relief from boredom, offering personalized content and gratification.
    • Rests on an assumption: The digital environment plays a crucial role in shaping procrastination patterns among Generation Z.
6 of 6

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Individuals experiencing boredom are motivated to seek sources of stimulation to alleviate discomfort.

    “Individuals experiencing boredom are typically motivated to seek sources of stimulation to alleviate this discomfort.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Repeated reliance on social media as an emotional coping strategy may, over time, contribute to compulsive and uncontrolled usage.

    “Repeated reliance on social media as an emotional coping strategy may, over time, contribute to compulsive and uncontrolled usage.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    In the current digital environment, social media platforms are a primary outlet for relief from boredom, offering personalized content and gratification.

    “In the current digital environment, social media platforms have emerged as a primary outlet for such relief, offering personalized content and gratification.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The digital environment plays a crucial role in shaping procrastination patterns among Generation Z.

    “The digital environment plays a crucial role in shaping these patterns as features such as infinite scrolling, push notifications, and the use of algorithm-driven content are specifically designed to capture and sustain attention, making disengagement particularly difficult for Generation Z.”
4 of 4

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

3 of the 19 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Nwosu, K. C., Ikwuka, O. I., Onyinyechi, M. U., & Unachukwu, G. C. (2020). Does the association of social media use with problematic internet behaviours predict ISSN: 2584-0142 International Journal of Interdisciplinary Approaches in Psychology (IJIAP) Vol. 4, Issue 6 June 2026 89
  2. undergraduate students' academic procrastination? Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology, 46(1). https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1267623

Authors
Deepak, A., & Rudrappa, S.
Affiliations
Jain University (IN)
Venue
International Journal of Interdisciplinary Approaches in Psychology
Publisher
Psychopedia
Published
2026-06-20
Volume
4
Issue
6
ISSN
2584-0142 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.61113/ijiap.v4i6.1565
OpenAlex
W7165355858
Semantic Scholar
842b6e33be56e19199488bdbad2b8f925fca1819
Cited by
0
References
19
FWCI
0.00
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
International Journal of Interdisciplinary Approaches in Psychology (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Perfectionism, Procrastination, Anxiety Studies
  • Social Sciences › Demography › Cyberloafing and Workplace Behavior
Keywords
state boredom, procrastination, social media addiction, Generation Z, mediation, adolescents and young adults

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Claims read by deepseek-v4.1-flash under definition version 3 (extract-v3) on 2026-10-10.

Classified by jev-1.13-20260917 (gold-guideline-v0.2) on 2026-10-10.

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