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The bright and dark sides of social cyberloafing: Effects on employee mental health in China

Author

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  • Wu, Jinnan
  • Mei, Wenjuan
  • Liu, Lin
  • Ugrin, Joseph C.

Abstract

Cyberloafing, the use of the Internet for non-work related activities, is widespread in the workplace. Although most research on cyberloafing concentrates on negative consequences for employees and organizations, studies have begun exploring its potential positive effects. This study contributes to that discussion by examining the impact of employee social cyberloafing on their mental health. We draw from ego-depletion theory and the effort-recovery model to develop a framework that explains social cyberloafing’s effects on two facets of employee mental health: fatigue and psychological detachment. Data from 375 Chinese employees were analyzed using a structural equation model and bootstrapping procedure. Results show that while social cyberloafing has a positive relationship with psychological detachment, it leads to employee fatigue. Moreover, psychological detachment positively and fatigue negatively mediate the relationship between social cyberloafing and mental health.

Suggested Citation

  • Wu, Jinnan & Mei, Wenjuan & Liu, Lin & Ugrin, Joseph C., 2020. "The bright and dark sides of social cyberloafing: Effects on employee mental health in China," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 56-64.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:112:y:2020:i:c:p:56-64
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.02.043
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Deepika Mishra & Natasha Tageja, 2022. "Cyberslacking for Coping Stress? Exploring the Role of Mindfulness as Personal Resource," International Journal of Global Business and Competitiveness, Springer, vol. 17(1), pages 56-67, December.
    2. Jungwon Kuem & Yixin Zhang, 2025. "How Does Performance-Based Monetary Incentive Influence Cyberloafing’s Effects on Task Performance?," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 27(3), pages 1319-1336, June.
    3. Herter, Márcia Maurer & Borges, Adilson & Pinto, Diego Costa, 2021. "Which emotions make you healthier? The effects of sadness, embarrassment, and construal level on healthy behaviors," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 147-158.
    4. Marc Ohana & Ghulam Murtaza & Inam ul Haq & Esraa Al-Shatti & Zhang Chi, 2024. "Why and When can CSR toward Employees Lead to Cyberloafing? The Role of Workplace Boredom and Moral Disengagement," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 189(1), pages 133-148, January.
    5. Reizer, Abira & Galperin, Bella L. & Chavan, Meena & Behl, Abhishek & Pereira, Vijay, 2022. "Examining the relationship between fear of COVID-19, intolerance for uncertainty, and cyberloafing: A mediational model," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 660-670.
    6. Mila Nur Kamila & Muafi Muafi, 2023. "The influence of job stress and job boredom on employee performance mediated by cyberloafing behavior: Evidence in Indonesia," International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147-4478), Center for the Strategic Studies in Business and Finance, vol. 12(1), pages 99-109, January.
    7. Tandon, Anushree & Dhir, Amandeep & Islam, Nazrul & Talwar, Shalini & Mäntymäki, Matti, 2021. "Psychological and behavioral outcomes of social media-induced fear of missing out at the workplace," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 186-197.
    8. Parakrama Jayasuriya & Dinoka Nimali Perera & Amitha Padukkage, 2025. "Cyberloafing and Job Performance: The Mediating Effect of Stress: Empirical Evidence from the Apparel Manufacturing in Sri Lanka," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 9(5), pages 313-329, May.
    9. Mengmeng Song & Joseph Ugrin & Man Li & Jinnan Wu & Shanshan Guo & Wenpei Zhang, 2021. "Do Deterrence Mechanisms Reduce Cyberloafing When It Is an Observed Workplace Norm? A Moderated Mediation Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-16, June.
    10. Pshdar Hamza & Georgiana Karadas, 2025. "Digital Leadership, AI Integration, and Cyberloafing: Pathways to Sustainable Innovation in SMEs Within Resource-Constrained Economies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-23, October.
    11. D.C.P. Jayasuriya & G.D.N. Perera (PhD) & A. Padukkage (PhD), 2023. "Developing a Practical Nomological Framework on Cyber loafing and Job performance for the Global Apparel Manufacturing Sector by Identifying Research Gaps," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 7(10), pages 1422-1442, October.
    12. Lin Liu & Qiang Mei & Lixin Jiang & Jinnan Wu & Suxia Liu & Meng Wang, 2021. "Safety-Specific Passive-Avoidant Leadership and Safety Compliance among Chinese Steel Workers: The Moderating Role of Safety Moral Belief and Organizational Size," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-18, March.
    13. Wenpei Zhang & Shankuo Xiong & Yelianghui Zheng & Jinnan Wu, 2022. "Response Efficacy and Self-Efficacy Mediated the Relationship between Perceived Threat and Psychic Anxiety among College Students in the Early Stage of the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-11, February.
    14. Yue Hu & Tingyue Kuang & Yan Lu, 2024. "The Effect of Work Connectivity Behavior After-Hours on Emotional Exhaustion: The Role of Psychological Detachment and Work-Family Segmentation Preference," SAGE Open, , vol. 14(3), pages 21582440241, September.
    15. Zhuolin She & Quan Li, 2023. "When Too Little or Too Much Hurts: Evidence for a Curvilinear Relationship Between Cyberloafing and Task Performance in Public Organizations," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 183(4), pages 1141-1158, April.
    16. Yue Li & Liwen Xia & Li Wang & Mengyuan Qiu & Sulistyo Utomo, 2024. "How Are Rural Homestays Achieving Sustainable Development in the Post-COVID-19 Period: Value Co-Creation by Operators, Tourists, and Government," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-16, January.
    17. Zhang, Long & Zhang, Chuang & Shen, Ya Xi & Liu, Haiping, 2025. "Why being labeled “creative” triggers employees’ unethical pro-organizational behavior: The role of felt obligation for constructive change and Machiavellianism," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).

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