ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Psychol.
Sec. Media Psychology
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1654790
The Importance of Time Perspective in Media Multitasking Behavior
Provisionally accepted
- 1Iowa State University, Ames, United States
- 2California State University Northridge, Northridge, United States
- 3Iowa State University of Science and Technology, Ames, United States
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Abstract: Introduction: Media multitasking (using several forms of media at once or using media during a non-media activity) occurs frequently in daily life, though some multitask more than others. This study investigated how individual differences in tendency toward immediate gratification, conceptualized using dual-process and dual-motive models of self-control, are associated with frequency of media multitasking behavior. Method: This report extends existing knowledge and offers a comprehensive view by combining self-report survey measures with objective behavioral tasks in two U.S. student samples (Study 1 from a Hispanic-Serving Institution, N = 487; and Study 2 from a Midwestern research university, N = 381). Participants completed self-report measures of media multitasking frequency, effortful control, mindfulness, and time perspective (future versus immediate-goal focus). They also answered retrospective time estimation questions and completed a Time Production (in Study 1 only) and Stop Signal task using E-Prime Go. Individual multitasking scores, media combinations, and in-study multitasking were also examined, and in Study 2 participants also completed a delay discounting measure. Results: Components of cognitive control had significant negative associations with media multitasking behavior. The strongest positive associations were with having a present-focused time perspective and favoring immediate over distal rewards. Issues with time estimation played a role as well. Discussion: Overall, our findings suggest that a preference for immediate reward might outweigh cognitive control ability when predicting media multitasking behavior. Keywords: Media Multitasking, Individual Differences, Immediate Gratification, Self-Regulation, Time Perspective
Keywords: Media multitasking, individual differences, Immediate gratification, Self-regulation, time perspective
Received: 26 Jun 2025; Accepted: 25 Aug 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Rogojina, Kantner and Gentile. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Alena A Rogojina, Iowa State University, Ames, United States
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