The effect of phubbing, a behavioral problem, on academic procrastination: The mediating and moderating role of academic self‐efficacy

Abstract

AbstractOur preoccupation with smartphones affects our attitudes. Our changing attitudes also create disruptions in our daily routines. Smartphones, the most common technological device we use, have exposed individuals to phubbing behavior. The behavioral problem we define as phubbing causes disruptions and procrastination in our academic responsibilities. In this study, the relationship between phubbing frequency and academic procrastination tendencies of students and the effect of academic self‐efficacy on this relationship were performed. For this purpose, in this study, the mediator and moderator role of academic self‐efficacy in the relationship between academic procrastination and phubbing was examined. The study group of the research consisted of 518 students in late adolescence from Turkey. 323 (62.4%) of the participants were females and 195 (37.6%) of them were males (Mage = 19.4 years). They completed questionnaires measuring phubbing tendency, academic procrastination, academic self‐efficacy, and personal information form. It was found that academic self‐efficacy was a partial mediator in the relationship between academic procrastination and phubbing. In addition, academic self‐efficacy also had a moderator effect. According to these results, it can be said that the acquisition of academic self‐efficacy can reduce the negative effects of phubbing, which is a behavioral problem, and the tendency to academic procrastination.