Linking Mindfulness to Sleep Deprivation in Adolescents:The Role of General Procrastination and Phubbing

Effective interventions that can prevent sleep deprivation are needed for the healthy development of adolescents. Examining the underlying mechanisms that may lead to sleep deprivation is essential in this context. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Türkiye and employed a correlational research design with a large sample of 1,166 Turkish adolescents aged 15-17 years (Mage = 15.82, SD = 0.80). Data were collected using the Child and Adolescent Mindfulness Measure (CAMM), the General Scale of Phubbing (GSP), and the General Procrastination Scale (GPS). Analyses were conducted using PROCESS Macro Model 6 to examine the relationships among variables and potential serial mediation effects. Correlation analysis results indicated that, in adolescents, mindfulness levels were negatively associated with general phubbing, general procrastination, and sleep deprivation, while phubbing and procrastination behaviors were positively correlated with each other and with sleep deprivation. Mediation analyses indicated that the relationship between mindfulness and sleep deprivation occurred both directly and indirectly through phubbing, procrastination, and serial mediation via phubbing and procrastination, with approximately 42.33% of the total effect accounted for by the indirect pathways. In conclusion, the findings indicate that increasing adolescents' levels of mindfulness may reduce phubbing and general procrastination behaviors, thereby playing a protective role against sleep deprivation. Theoretically, the results contribute to a better understanding of the processes through which mindfulness relates to sleep deprivation via smartphone use and general procrastination in adolescents. Practically, interventions aimed at enhancing adolescents' mindfulness levels may serve as a potential approach to prevent sleep deprivation through the reduction of procrastination and phubbing. Accordingly, such interventions may offer valuable implications for prevention, intervention, and policy practices, as well as for professionals working with adolescents.