Mind-wandering and mindfulness as mediators of the relationship between online vigilance and well-being

Johannes N, Veling H, Dora J, Meier A, Reinecke L, Buijzen M (2018)

Publication Language: English

Publication Type: Journal article, Original article

Publication year: 2018

Journal

Cyberpsychology Behavior and Social Networking Mary Ann Liebert

Book Volume: 21

Pages Range: 761-767

Journal Issue: 12

DOI: 10.1089/cyber.2018.0373

Abstract

As mobile technology allows users to be online anywhere and at all times, a growing number of users report feeling constantly alert and preoccupied with online streams of online information and communication-a phenomenon that has recently been termed online vigilance. Despite its growing prevalence, consequences of this constant orientation toward online streams of information and communication for users' well-being are largely unclear. In the present study, we investigated whether being constantly vigilant is related to cognitive consequences in the form of increased mind-wandering and decreased mindfulness and examined the resulting implications for well-being. To test our assumptions, we estimated a path model based on survey data (N = 371). The model supported the majority of our preregistered hypotheses: online vigilance was indeed related to mind-wandering and mindfulness, but only mindfulness mediated the relationship with decreased well-being. Thus, those mentally preoccupied with online communication were overall less satisfied with their lives and reported less affective well-being when they also experienced reduced mindfulness.

Authors with CRIS profile

Adrian Meier

Additional Organisation(s)

Assistant Professorship for Communication Science

Involved external institutions

Radboud University Nijmegen NL Netherlands (NL) Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz (JGU) DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Johannes, N., Veling, H., Dora, J., Meier, A., Reinecke, L., & Buijzen, M. (2018). Mind-wandering and mindfulness as mediators of the relationship between online vigilance and well-being. Cyberpsychology Behavior and Social Networking, 21(12), 761-767. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2018.0373

MLA:

Johannes, Niklas, et al. "Mind-wandering and mindfulness as mediators of the relationship between online vigilance and well-being." Cyberpsychology Behavior and Social Networking 21.12 (2018): 761-767.

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