Decisional procrastination and problematic mobile phone use: the mediation of anxiety and the moderation of 2019-nCoV traumatic experience

Abstract

Background: Decisional procrastination (DP) has a significant association with problematic mobile phone use (PMPU); however, the potential mechanisms and boundary conditions between DP and PMPU remain to be further explored. This essay studied the mediation of anxiety between DP and PMPU and whether the 2019-nCoV traumatic experience moderated the mediation process. Methods: A questionnaire was used in this study. Measurements of DP, PMPU, anxiety, and 2019-nCoV traumatic experience were completed with Chinese college students as participants. Results: This study is based on a valid sample of 798 Chinese college students, the results indicated that higher DP was significantly associated with higher PMPU. Anxiety served as a partial mediator in the association between DP and PMPU. Moreover, Moreover, the 2019-nCoV traumatic experience moderated the association between anxiety and PMPU among college students. Specifically, for college students with a higher degree of 2019-nCoV traumatic experience, the association between anxiety and PMPU is stronger. Conclusions: This study deepens our understanding of the association between DP and college students’ PMPU. Meanwhile, it also highlights that the psychological distress associated with the traumatic experience of the 2019-nCoV pandemic may be alleviated, thereby reducing the salience of anxiety in relation to college students’ PMPU.