Time Well Wasted? Online Procrastination During Times of Unemployment. (June 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Müller, Severina; Fieseler, Christian; Meckel, Miriam; Suphan, Anne
• Is Part Of: Social science computer review. Volume 36:Number 3(2018)
• Page Start: 263
• Page End: 276
• Publication Date: 2018-06
• Subjects: unemployment -- procrastination -- Internet -- perceived exclusion; Social sciences -- Data processing -- Periodicals; Computers -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Microcomputers -- Periodicals; Sciences sociales -- Informatique -- Périodiques; Micro-ordinateurs -- Périodiques; 300.285
• DOI: 10.1177/0894439317715716
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0894-4393

Abstract

This article examines the argument regarding whether perceived social exclusion during unemployment leads to procrastination through online media, which in turn lessens the job search efforts of the unemployed. Based on data from 386 unemployed Internet users, we argue that online procrastination plays an important role in the lives of the unemployed but has no immediate effects on their perceived job search efforts. Contextual factors play an important role; that is, the amount of motivational control that the unemployed can muster exerts a strong effect on job search efforts. Generally, unemployed Internet users with low motivational control struggle more with their job search efforts. Thus, the recreational use of online media as such is not necessarily detrimental to the efforts invested in finding a job; instead, online skill-building and motivational support are key antecedents to better empower the unemployed to use the Internet productively for finding reemployment.