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Future time perspective and cyberloafing in Chinese adolescents: the multiple mediating role of self-control and excessive smartphone use

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: As a complicated phenomenon in an educational context, cyberloafing has gradually attracted researchers’ attention. The current study attempted to explore the association between future time perspective and adolescent cyberloafing by investigating the potential mediating roles of self-control and excessive smartphone use. A sample of 907 adolescents with an age range of 12 to 18 years (Mage = 14.86 years, SD = 1.73) completed a questionnaire on future time perspective, self-control, excessive smartphone use, and cyberloafing. The results showed a significant negative association between future time perspective and cyberloafing among adolescents. Additionally, self-control and excessive smartphone use served as potential mechanisms by which future time perspective related to adolescent cyberloafing. This study enriches the existing research on the factors that influence cyberloafing among adolescents, and contributes to a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of how future time perspective affects adolescent cyberloafing, providing new insights for the development of interventions.

Source: BMC Psychology

DOI: 10.1186/s40359-026-04225-x

Authors: Dan He, Huifen Shi, Yunyang Hu, Maoqin Tang, Wei Huang

Institutions: China West Normal University, Central China Normal University, Guangdong Polytechnic Normal University

Language: English

Topic: Cyberloafing and Workplace Behavior

Subfield: Demography

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,990