Everyday functioning-related cognitive correlates of media multitasking: a mini meta-analysis. Issue 2 (4th March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wiradhany, Wisnu; Koerts, Janneke
• Is Part Of: Media psychology. Volume 24:Issue 2(2021)
• Page Start: 276
• Page End: 303
• Publication Date: 2021-03-04
• Subjects: Mass media -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; 302.23
• DOI: 10.1080/15213269.2019.1685393
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1521-3269

Abstract

ABSTRACT: A recent meta-analysis has shown that media multitasking behavior, or consuming multiple streams of media simultaneously, might not be associated with less efficient cognitive processing, as measured with objective tests. Nevertheless, a growing number of studies have reported that media multitasking is correlated with cognitive functioning in everyday situations, as measured in self-reports. Here, in a series of mini meta-analyses, we show that the self-reported correlates of media multitasking can be categorized in at least four major themes. Heavy media multitasking was associated with increasing problems with attention regulation (e.g., increased mind-wandering and distractibility), behavior regulation (e.g., emotion regulation and self-monitor), inhibition/impulsiveness (e.g., higher level of impulsiveness and lower level of inhibition), and memory. However, the pooled effect sizes were small ( z = .16 to z = .22), indicating that a large proportion of variance of media multitasking behavior is still unaccounted for. Additionally, we witnessed a high level of heterogeneity in the attention regulation theme, which might indicate the presence of the risk of study bias.