Science University Research Symposium (SURS)
Publication Date
Fall 11-23-2026
College
College of Sciences & Mathematics
Department
Psychological Sciences and Neurosciences, Department of
SURS Faculty Advisor
Patrick Morse
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Abstract
The relationship between phone use, distractibility, and reading comprehension is increasingly relevant among younger generations. Previous research has found a negative relationship between excessive social media use and sustained attention, suggesting that greater social media use may be associated with more difficulty maintaining focus (Poles, 2025). Similarly, research examining short-video addiction and academic performance found that greater short-video consumption was associated with reduced attention span and lower academic performance among university students (Khalid et al., 2026). Building on this research, the present study examines the relationship between social media addiction, phone-related distractibility, and reading comprehension performance, with distractibility serving as a potential mediator. A sample of 112 undergraduate students from Belmont University completed the Social Networking Sites-Addiction Test (SNS-AT), a reading comprehension test, and a self-report measure of distractibility during the reading task. We hypothesize that higher social media addiction scores will be associated with greater distractibility and lower reading comprehension performance, and that distractibility may help explain the relationship between social media addiction and reading comprehension. This study may help clarify how social media habits and phone-related distractions relate to academic reading. Understanding these associations may inform strategies for reducing digital distractions and supporting students’ focus and comprehension in academic settings.
Recommended Citation
Chatman, Diamond; Gutierrez, Aleigha; Spears, Eliza; and Villalta monge, Natalie, "Distractibility of Phone Use During a Reading Comprehension Task" (2026). Science University Research Symposium (SURS). 415.
https://repository.belmont.edu/surs/415
