Examining the mediating role of academic procrastination in the relationship between university students' fear of negative evaluation and problematic smartphone use

Abstract

This research examines the mediating role of academic procrastination in the relationship between fear of negative evaluation and problematic smartphone use among university students. A total of 317 university students (180 females and 137 males, X̄ = 21.19 ± 2.38) participated in the study and completed The Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale, The Tuckman Procrastination Scale, and the Short Form of the Smartphone Addiction Scale. Structural Equation Modeling was used for data analysis. According to results, fear of negative evaluation predicts problematic smartphone usage through the full mediation of academic procrastination. In this context, it can be said that university students with a high level of fear of negative evaluation experience more academic procrastination and this academic procrastination increases problematic internet use. In the discussion and conclusion section, explanations related to the research findings, limitations of the study, and suggestions for future research were provided.