Procrastination and media consumption: An examination of the moderating roles of impulsivity and poor decision-making

Previous studies have shown an association between procrastination and media use via impulsivity. However, impulsivity is a broad concept that includes various poorly conceived and expressed behaviours. To better understand the link between procrastination and media use, this study investigated the role of poor decision-making in the relationship. Participants completed self-report scales measuring media use, media-multitasking, impulsivity and procrastination. They also completed the IOWA gambling task (IGT) as a measure of poor decision-making. Procrastination was positively associated with media use, media-multitasking, impulsivity and poor decision-making in the IGT. Further, procrastination was significantly linked to media use for high levels of poor decision-making only. The relationship between procrastination and media-multitasking was evident at high and average levels, but not at low levels of poor decision-making. Overall impulsivity did not moderate the relationship between procrastination and media use (or media-multitasking). However, premeditation and sensation seeking subscales of impulsivity moderated the relationship. The link between procrastination and media use (but not media-multitasking) was significant at low levels of premeditation and high levels of sensation seeking. The findings add to the current literature by demonstrating that poor decision-making and aspects of impulsivity facilitate the link between procrastination and media use.