Understanding the determinants of digital distraction: An automatic thinking behavior perspective

Abstract

Digital distraction is a prevalent technology-use behavior that has received increasing public attention in the recent years. This study draws on the theory of automatic thinking behaviors to identify factors that influence individuals' digital distraction intensity. The results of a survey involving 426 U.S. university students reveal that attentional impulsiveness, Internet addiction, and habitual technology use influence the intensity of digital distraction positively. Also, individuals’ impulsive personality traits and habit are shown to positively influence Internet addiction levels. These findings not only provide a theoretical explanation of the digital distraction phenomenon from the perspective of automatic thinking behaviors but also offer valuable insights for combatting digital distraction.