Just One More Episode: Procrastination on Online Media Streaming Services The Influence of Gender Traits, Passion, and Motivation

Procrastination on online media streaming services is a form of problematic media use which a lot of people struggle with – therefore it is relevant to research this phenomenon. This study followed a recent transition in focus from biological sex as a predictor of media behaviour, to gender traits. In addition to gender traits, other possible predictors for procrastination behaviour were thought to be: passion for media streaming, motivation, and ego depletion. The central question in this research was: to what extent do gender traits, passion, motivations, and ego depletion influence procrastination behaviour on media streaming services? The influence of gender traits, passion, motivation and ego depletion on procrastination behaviour were tested using data from this survey based quantitative study (N = 243). The findings showed that gender traits, passion, motivation, ego depletion and procrastination are closely related concepts with a lot of interplay. Gender traits were found to directly influence all other variables within the study, which substantiated the value of existing theoretical claims that personality attributes impact media behaviour. Negative feminine gender traits were expected to predict obsessive passion, ego depletion, and procrastination, as they describe an anxious, self-doubting personality. In contrast, negative masculine attributes were expected to protect individuals from obsessive passion, ego depletion and procrastinatory behaviour, as they describe a controlling personality. However, this study found both negative feminine as well as negative masculine gender traits to be direct predictors of obsessive passion, ego depletion and procrastination behaviour. Interestingly, both harmonious as well as obsessive passion did not directly predict procrastination behaviour on online media streaming services. Instead, they were found to influence content preference and motivational choices. Additionally, harmonious passion was found to protect individuals from ego depletion, whilst entertainment motivation was found to influence the loss of selfregulatory resources. Motivations’ influence on procrastination showed duality, with information motivation found to protect individuals from problematic media usage, whereas companionship motivation predicted procrastinatory behaviour. Ego depletion was found to directly influence procrastination. Results suggest that because gender traits, motivation, and ego depletion are direct predictors of procrastination behaviour on online media streaming services, they influence this form of problematic media use to a great extent. Passion influences procrastination to a certain extent, as it is an indirect predictor.