Does mindless scrolling hamper well-being? Combining ESM and log-data to examine the link between mindless scrolling, goal conflict, guilt, and daily well-being

Abstract This manuscript presents findings from a preregistered mixed-method study involving 67,762 ecological momentary assessments and behavioral smartphone observations from 1,315 adults. The study investigates (a) momentary associations between mindless scrolling, goal conflict, and guilt over smartphone use, and (b) whether guilt experiences during the day culminate into lower well-being. Results indicate that individuals experienced more guilt over their smartphone use when they had mindlessly scrolled for a longer period and that experienced goal conflict partially mediated this relationship. Daily analyses revealed that mindless scrolling was also associated with small negative changes in well-being, and this relationship was partially mediated by guilt experienced over the same day. Individuals with less self-control were more prone to experiencing goal conflict after mindlessly scrolling. These findings indicate that although mindless scrolling may seem a relatively harmless media behavior, it may have both momentary and downstream negative implications for well-being. Lay Summary Have you ever found yourself mindlessly scrolling through your social media (SM) feed, only to later feel bad because you thought you could have spent your time doing something better? Our research investigates this phenomenon by examining the associations between mindless scrolling, feelings of guilt over smartphone use, goal conflict, and well-being. During two weeks, a group of 1,315 adults received six questionnaires per day while their smartphone activity was being monitored. Our study found that, after spending more time mindlessly scrolling, people tend to feel more guilty about their smartphone use. The feeling that such time could have been spent on other relevant goals partially explains this relationship. Additionally, people with lower self-control seem to struggle more with this. Interestingly, we found that people feel less well on days where they mindlessly scroll more. Although mindless scrolling may seem a relatively harmless behavior, our findings thus suggest that it may have negative psychological consequences that we need to better understand.