Journal of Happiness and Health
  • Register
  • Login

Journal of Happiness and Health

  • Home
  • Journal Info
    • Aims & Scope
    • About the Journal
    • Editorial Team
    • Journal Metrics
    • Review Guidelines
    • Publisher & Founder
  • Issues
    • Current
    • Archives
  • Author Guidelines
    • Guide for Authors
    • Publication Ethics
    • Peer Review Process
    • Publication Policy
    • Copyright Information
    • Open Access Policy
  • Submit Manuscript
  • Contact
Advanced Search
  1. Home
  2. Archives
  3. Vol. 6 No. 1 (2026)
  4. Articles

Vol. 6 No. 1 (2026)

April 2026

Social media and well-being: Who is at risk? The critical role of procrastination

  • Selin Alma
  • Cantürk Akben

Journal of Happiness and Health, Vol. 6 No. 1 (2026), 17 April 2026 , Page 52-61
https://doi.org/10.47602/johah.v6i1.165 Published: 17.04.2026

  • View Article
  • Download
  • Cite
  • References
  • Statastics
  • Share

Abstract

The widespread use of social media raises concerns about its impact on mental health. While a negative link between social media addiction (SMA) tendencies and psychological well-being (PWB) is established, the underlying mechanisms require clarification. This study examined, from a social and health psychology perspective, whether loneliness mediates this relationship and if procrastination moderates the mediation. 603 participants completed the Social Media Addiction Scale, UCLA Loneliness Scale, Adult Inventory of Procrastination, and Psychological Well-Being Scale. Results confirmed that loneliness mediates the negative relationship between SMA and PWB. Crucially, procrastination moderated the first stage of this mediation. The positive link between SMA and loneliness was significant at low and moderate levels of procrastination but nonsignificant at high levels. Consequently, the indirect negative association of SMA and PWB through loneliness was observed only in individuals with low and moderate procrastination. For high procrastinators, this pathway was not evident. Well-being appears compromised by a broader pattern of self-regulatory failure, making the specific role of social media less distinct for them. This study underscores the importance of considering individual differences in procrastination in interventions aimed at mitigating the negative psychological effects of social media use.

Keywords:
  • health psychology
  • loneliness
  • procrastination
  • psychological well-being
  • social media addiction
  • social psychology
  • PDF

How to Cite

Alma, S., & Akben, C. (2026). Social media and well-being: Who is at risk? The critical role of procrastination. Journal of Happiness and Health, 6(1), 52–61. https://doi.org/10.47602/johah.v6i1.165
  • ACM
  • ACS
  • APA
  • ABNT
  • Chicago
  • Harvard
  • IEEE
  • MLA
  • Turabian
  • Vancouver
  • Endnote/Zotero/Mendeley (RIS)
  • BibTeX

References

Alter, A. (2017). Irresistible: The rise of addictive technology and the business of keeping us hooked. Penguin Press.

Andreassen, C. S. (2015). Online social network site addiction: A comprehensive review. Current Addiction Reports, 2, 175–184. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40429-015-0056-9

Andreassen, C. S., Billieux, J., Griffiths, M. D., Kuss, D. J., Demetrovics, Z., Mazzoni, E., & Pallesen, S. (2016). The relationship between addictive use of social media and video games and symptoms of psychiatric disorders: A large-scale cross-sectional study. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 30(2), 252-62. https://doi.org/10.1037/adb0000160

Arpacık, Z., Türkmen, S., & Kiremitçi Canıöz, E. (2025). The psychological effects of legitimizing social media influencers’s crimes: the role of nomophobia and social media use [Sosyal medya fenomenlerinin suçlarını meşrulaştırmanın psikolojik etkileri: nomofobi ve sosyal medya kullanımının rolü]. HUMANITAS - International Journal of Social Sciences, 13(26), 33-48. https://doi.org/10.20304/humanitas.1691922

Bányai, F., Zsila, Á., Király, O., Maraz, A., Elekes, Z., Griffiths, M. D., Andreassen, C. S., & Demetrovics, Z. (2017). Problematic social media use: Results from a large-scale nationally representative adolescent sample. PLOS ONE, 12(1), Article e0169839. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0169839

Błachnio, A., Przepiorka, A., & Pantic, I. (2016). Association between Facebook addiction, self-esteem and life satisfaction: A cross-sectional study. Computers in Human Behavior, 55, 701-705. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2015.10.026

Brand, M., Young, K. S., Laier, C., Wölfling, K., and Potenza, M. N. (2016). Integrating psychological and neurobiological considerations regarding the development and maintenance of specific internet-use disorders: an Interaction of Person-Affect-Cognition-Execution (I-PACE) model. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 71, 252–266. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.08.033

Clark, J. L., Algoe, S. B., & Green, M. C. (2018). Social network sites and well-being: The role of social connection. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 27(1), 32-37. https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721417730833

Dhir, A., Yossatorn, Y., Kaur, P., & Chen, S. (2018). Online social media fatigue and psychological wellbeing—A study of compulsive use, fear of missing out, fatigue, anxiety and depression. International Journal of Information Management, 40, 141–152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2018.01.012

Diener, E., Wirtz, D., Tov, W., Kim-Prieto, C., Choi, D.-w., Oishi, S., & Biswas-Diener, R. (2010). New well-being measures: Short scales to assess flourishing and positive and negative feelings. Social Indicators Research, 97(2), 143–156. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-009-9493-y

Doğan, T., Akıncı Çötok, N., & Göçet Tekin, E. (2011). Reliability and validity of the Turkish Version of the UCLA Loneliness Scale (ULS-8) among university students. Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences, 15, 2058-2062. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.04.053

Faul, F., Erdfelder, E., Buchner, A., & Lang, A. (2009). G, Statistical power analyses using G*Power 3.1.9.7: Tests for correlation and regression analyses, Behavior Research Methods, 2009, 41, 1149-1160. https://doi.org/10.3758/BRM.41.4.1149

Fırat, N., & Barut, Y. (2018). Development of the Social Media Addiction Scale: Validity and reliability study [Sosyal Medya Bağımlılığı Ölçeği (SMBÖ)'nin geliştirilmesi: Geçerlik ve güvenirlik çalışması]. Journal of Human Sciences, 15(4), 2458-2467. https://www.j-humansciences.com/ojs/index.php/IJHS/article/view/5181/2651

Fornell, C., & Larcker, D. F. (1981). Evaluating structural equation models with unobservable variables and measurement error. Journal of marketing research, 18(1), 39-50. https://doi.org/10.2307/3151312

Griffiths, M. D. (2005). A 'components' model of addiction within a biopsychosocial framework. Journal of Substance Use, 10(4), 191-197. https://doi.org/10.1080/14659890500114359

Hayes, A. F. (2013). Introduction to Mediation, Moderation, and Conditional Process Analysis: A Regression-Based Approach. The Guilford Press. https://doi.org/10.1111/jedm.12050

Hays, R. D., & DiMatteo, M. R. (1987). A Short-Form Measure of Loneliness. Journal of Personality Assessment, 51(1), 69–81. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa5101_6

Hunt, M. G., Marx, R., Lipson, C., & Young, J. (2018). No more FOMO: Limiting social media decreases loneliness and depression. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 37(10), 751-768. https://doi.org/10.1521/jscp.2018.37.10.751

Kiremitçi Canıöz, E, & Coşkun, H. (2018). The mediating role of depression and anxiety on relation between seasonality and subjective well-being [Üniversite öğrencilerinin mevsimsellik ve öznel iyi oluş düzeyleri arasındaki ilişkide depresyon ve anksiyetenin aracı rolü]. KALEM International Journal of Educational and Human Sciences, 8(2), 419-439. https://doi.org/10.23863/kalem.2019.110

Kiremitçi Canıöz, E. Şenyurt, A. Y., Gültepe, B., & Coşkun, H. (2025). Predictors of Prosocial Behavior: Religious Attitudes, Delay of Gratification, Well-Being, and Savoring [Prososyal Davranışın Yordayıcıları: Dini Tutum, Haz Erteleme, İyi Oluş ve Olumlu Yaşam Olaylarının Tadını Çıkarma]. Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University Journal of Faculty of Education, 25(4), 2286-2304. https://doi.org/10.17240/aibuefd.2025..-1676469

Kuss, D. J., & Griffiths, M. D. (2017). Social networking sites and addiction: Ten lessons learned. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(3), Article 311. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14030311

Kuss, D. J., Griffiths, M. D., Karila, L., & Billieux, J. (2014). Internet addiction: A systematic review of epidemiological research for the last decade. Current Pharmaceutical Design, 20(25), 4026-4052. https://doi.org/10.2174/13816128113199990617

Marino, C., Gini, G., Vieno, A., & Spada, M. M. (2018). A comprehensive meta-analysis on problematic Facebook use. Computers in Human Behavior, 83, 262-277. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2018.02.009

McCown, W., & Johnson, J. (1995). Adult inventory of procrastination. In J. R. Ferrari, J. L. Johnson, & W. G. McCown (Eds.), Procrastination and task avoidance: Theory, research, and treatment (pp. 63–66). New York: Plenum Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-0227-6

McCown, W., Johnson, J., & Petzel, T. (1989). Adult Inventory of Procrastination (AIP) [Database record]. APA PsycTests. https://doi.org/10.1037/t75471-000

Meier, A., Reinecke, L., & Meltzer, C. E. (2016). "Facebocrastination"? Predictors of using Facebook for procrastination and its effects on students' well-being. Computers in Human Behavior, 64, 65-76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2016.06.011

Montag, C., Lachmann, B., Herrlich, M., & Zweig, K. (2019). Addictive features of social media/messenger platforms and freemium games against the background of psychological and economic theories. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(14), Article 2612. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16142612

Moody, E. J. (2001). Internet use and its relationship to loneliness. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 4(3), 393-401. https://doi.org/10.1089/109493101300210303

Okudur Sabuncu, B., Kocabaş, D., & Şenyurt, A. Y. (2023). The mediatıng role of optimism in the effect of hope on psychologıcal well-being [Umudun psikolojik iyi oluşa etkisinde iyimserliğin aracılık rolü]. Eurasion Journal of Social and Economic Research, 10(4), 1420-1431. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/asead/article/1370554

Uzun Özer, B. (2014). Psychometric properties of Adult Inventory of Procrastination in a Turkish sample. Journal of Adult Development, 21(1), 43-47. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10804-013-9177-3

Perlman, D., & Peplau, L. A. (1981). Toward a social psychology of loneliness. In R. Gilmour & S. Duck (Eds.), Personal relationships: 3. Relationships in disorder (pp. 31-56). Academic Press.

Pituch, K. A., & Stevens, J. P. (2016). Applied multivariate statistics for the social sciences. 6th edition. New York: Routledge.

Pontes, H. M. (2017). Investigating the differential effects of social networking site addiction and Internet gaming disorder on psychological health. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 6(4), 601–610. https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.6.2017.075

Primack, B. A., Shensa, A., Sidani, J. E., Whaite, E. O., Lin, L. Y., Rosen, D., Colditz, J. B., Radovic, A., & Miller, E. (2017). Social media use and perceived social isolation among young adults in the U.S. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 53(1), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2017.01.010

Rozgonjuk, D., Elhai, J. D., Ryan, T., & Scott, G. G. (2020). Fear of missing out is associated with disrupted activities from receiving smartphone notifications and surface learning in college students. Computers & Education, 140, Article 103590. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2019.05.016

Ryff, C. D. (1989). Happiness is everything, or is it? Explorations on the meaning of psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57(6), 1069-1081. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.57.6.1069

Schumacker, R. E., & Lomax, R. G. (2016). A beginner’s guide to structural equation modelling. 4th edition. New York: Routledge.

Shen, C., & Williams, D. (2011). Unpacking time online: Connecting Internet and massively multiplayer online game use with psychosocial well-being. Communication Research, 38(1), 123–149. https://doi.org/10.1177/0093650210377196

Sirois, F. M., & Pychyl, T. A. (2016). Procrastination, health, and well-being. Academic Press.

Steel, P. (2007). The nature of procrastination: A meta-analytic and theoretical review of quintessential self-regulatory failure. Psychological Bulletin, 133(1), 65-94. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.133.1.65

Telef, B. B. (2013). The Adaptation of Psychological Well-Being into Turkish: A Validity and Reliability Study [Psikolojik İyi Oluş Ölçeği: Türkçeye Uyarlama, Geçerlik ve Güvenirlik Çalışması]. Hacettepe University Journal of Education, 28(3), 374-384. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/hunefd/issue/7791/101929

Tice, D. M., & Bratslavsky, E. (2000). Giving in to feel good: The place of emotion regulation in the context of general self-control. Psychological Inquiry, 11(3), 149-159. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327965PLI1103_03

Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK). (2024). Household information technology usage survey, 2024 [Hanehalkı Bilişim Teknolojileri Kullanım Araştırması, 2024]. Retrieved from https://data.tuik.gov.tr/Bulten/Index?p=Hanehalki-Bilisim-Teknolojileri-(BT)-Kullanim-Arastirmasi-2024-53492

Twenge, J. M., & Campbell, W. K. (2019). Media use is linked to lower psychological well-being: Evidence from three datasets. Psychiatric Quarterly, 90(2), 311-331. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11126-019-09630-7

Vannucci, A., Flannery, K. M., & Ohannessian, C. M. (2017). Social media use and anxiety in emerging adults. Journal of Affective Disorders, 207, 163-166. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2016.08.040

Vogel, E. A., Rose, J. P., Roberts, L. R., & Eckles, K. (2014). Social comparison, social media, and self-esteem. Psychology of Popular Media Culture, 3(4), 206-222. https://doi.org/10.1037/ppm0000047

Whitty, M. T., & McLaughlin, D. (2007). Online recreation: The relationship between loneliness, Internet self-efficacy and the use of the Internet for entertainment purposes. Computers in Human Behavior, 23(3), 1435-1446. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2005.05.003

Young, K. S. (1998). Internet addiction: The emergence of a new clinical disorder. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 1(3), 237-244. https://doi.org/10.1089/cpb.1998.1.237

  • Abstract Viewed: 0 times
  • PDF Downloaded: 0 times

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Download Statastics

  • Linkedin
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Google Plus
  • Telegram
Keywords
Most Downloaded (the last 90 days)
  • Beyond happiness: The three waves of positive psychology and the future of wellbeing
    732
  • Belongingness, social connectedness, and life Satisfaction in college students after COVID-19 pandemic
    575
  • Paths to well-Being: Trauma, rumination, creativity, and growth
    519
  • Effects of a mindfulness-based virtual reality intervention on life satisfaction, happiness, and flourishing in college students: A pilot study
    424
  • CliftonStrengths® in sports: Athletes and coaches from the high school to olympic levels
    417

Information

  • For Readers
  • For Authors
  • For Librarians
  • Home
  • Archives
  • Submissions
  • About the Journal
  • Editorial Team
  • Contact

Journal of Happiness and Health (JOHAH) is a peer-reviewed journal covering happiness and provides an international forum for the science of happiness and health. The JOHAH, which is published two times a year, is an open-access that publishes research outcomes with significant contributions to the understanding and improvement of happiness and health and publishes research regarding the happiness of populations across the life span. The journal publishes research free from all access barriers, allowing for global distribution and more citations.

Journal of Happiness and Health is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.