Predictors of Purpose in Life in Young Adults: The Role of Boredom and Problematic Smartphone Use

Abstract

Purpose in life (PiL) has been identified as a developmental asset for young people and a source of resilience (McKnight & Kashdan, 2009). Despite the growing trends in boredom and the widespread use of smartphones, the potential link between PiL, boredom, and problematic smartphone use (PSU) has not been fully explored. The current study had two aims: first, to identify relationships between PiL, boredom, and PSU in young adults; second, to understand the processes by which boredom and PSU predict PiL in young adults. 81 young adults between the ages of 18 and 30 completed an online questionnaire composed of scales to measure PiL, boredom, PSU, and religiosity (as a control). The results indicated that there is a significant negative correlation between PiL and boredom and a significant positive correlation between boredom and PSU. However, the current study did not find significant associations between PiL and PSU, nor any significant relationships between religiosity and any of the other variables. Multiple regression and mediation analyses showed that boredom, independent of demographic factors and PSU, predicted PiL and that neither boredom nor PSU had an overall significant mediational effect on PiL. Future research should be done with a larger and more diverse sample to verify these findings.