How college students’ social media information overload affects sleep quality: The mediating effect of social fatigue and irrational procrastination

Abstract

Information overload is a pervasive phenomenon in the information age and has a negative impact on personal psychological experiences and behavioural performance. The relationship between WeChat information overload and sleep quality was examined, as well as the mediating effects of social fatigue and irrational procrastination. A total of 1 899 Chinese college students (females = 45.8%; mean age = 20.26 years, SD = 1.70) were selected for study. They completed the Information Overload Scale, Social Fatigue Scale, Irrational Procrastination Scale, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Path analysis results show a significantly positive correlation between information overload and sleep quality and the mediating role of irrational procrastination in this relationship. Social fatigue and irrational procrastination play a chain-mediating role in the link between information overload and sleep quality. This suggests that information overload has an impact on sleep quality through social fatigue and irrational procrastination. Student mental health counselling services should consider information overload and sleep deprivation indicators for support interventions.