The effects of boredom on short video addiction: mediating roles of procrastination and physical activity

Boredom is a prevalent emotional experience that shapes individuals' cognitive and behavioral patterns across various dimensions. Short video addiction has become an increasingly prevalent issue among college students; however, few empirical studies have explored the potential impact of boredom on short video addictive behaviors. Previous studies have shown that, among college students, procrastination and physical activity are both associated with boredom and short-video addiction. In this context, the present study primarily examines the association between boredom and short video addiction among college students, as well as the mediating roles of procrastination and physical activity in this relationship. We constructed a parallel mediation model to test the proposed hypothetical relationships. MethodsA random sample of 287 college students from a normal university completed questionnaires including the Boredom Proneness Scale, Short Video Addiction Scale, Physical Activity Rating Scale, and Short General Procrastination Scale. Conduct correlation analysis and mediation analysis using SPSS. Results(1) Among the 287 college students, 129 scored at the addiction level on the short video addiction scale, representing a rate of 44.9%. (2) Boredom is positively associated with short video addiction. (3) Procrastination independently mediated the relationship between boredom and short video addiction. (4) Physical activity independently mediated the connection between boredom and short video addiction.ConclusionThis study investigates the relationship between boredom and short video addiction among college students, as well as the roles of procrastination and physical activity in this phenomenon. Our findings provide a theoretical basis for future research on the association between boredom and short video addiction.