Scrolling, Delaying, and Stressing: How Social Media and Procrastination Shape Test Anxiety

The rapid growth of social media has transformed communication and information sharing; however, excessive use can promote procrastination and avoidance of academic tasks, contributing to increased test anxiety among students. This study explores how social media use and procrastination contribute to test anxiety among the said population. A cross-sectional design was employed with sample of 284 university students (M = 110, F = 160) with a mean X age=20.8 years selected through convenience. Social media was measured through Social Media Use Questionnaire (Xanidis and Brignell, 2016), procrastination was assessed using the Lay Procrastination Scale (Lay, 1986) and test anxiety was evaluated by Westside Test Anxiety Scale (Driscoll, 2004). Data was analyzed using correlation and regression analysis. The results revealed significant positive correlation between social media use, procrastination, and test anxiety. Regression analysis showed that both the use of social media and procrastination significantly forecasted test anxiety, indicating that an increased occurrence of problematic digital engagement and reduced self-control leads to academic stress. These findings highlight the fact that university-level interventions encourage healthier digital habits and stronger individual control of students. Also, it emphasizes the need for parents and educators to promote effective study habits and self-regulation, as excessive social media use limits students’ available study time.