Media multitasking and psychological wellbeing in Chinese adolescents: Time management as a moderator

Abstract

The present study examined the relationships among media multitasking, time management, and psychological wellbeing in Chinese adolescents. A total of 320 adolescents aged 11 to 18years old were recruited and asked to complete the Media Use Questionnaire, Chinese Adolescent Mental Health Inventory, and Adolescent Time Management Disposition scale. A structural equation model was used to assess possible relationships among media multitasking, time management, and psychological wellbeing. The results showed that the media multitasking index of the sample was 2.5, indicating that adolescents also had access to other 2.5 media tasks when performing the primary media task. Media multitasking was significantly negatively correlated with psychological wellbeing. Time management disposition was negatively correlated with Media multitasking and positively correlated with psychological wellbeing. Our findings indicate that time management disposition can moderate the relationship between Media multitasking and psychological wellbeing. The theoretical and practical implications of adolescent media use are discussed.