Self-Efficacy, Fear of Missing out, Social Media Use, and Bedtime Procrastination in Chinese College Students

Bedtime procrastination is prevalent, particularly among adolescents. This study employed self-regulation theory and social cognitive theory as its theoretical framework and used structural equation modeling to explore relationships among self-efficacy, fear of missing out (FoMO), social media use, and bedtime procrastination. 468 Chinese college students (54% male, 46% female) completed self-report questionnaires online. The results showed a significant negative correlation between self-efficacy and bedtime procrastination. This association was partially explained by increased FoMO and social media use. Fear of missing out was only related to bedtime procrastination among females. Our study highlights that FoMO and social media use may be important for understanding and mitigating bedtime procrastination, specifically in those with lower self-efficacy.