張郁敏

Yuhmiin Chang

心流、任務相關、幸福感、媒介多工、認知負荷

flow, task relevance, well-being, media multitasking, cognitive load

本研究旨在探究媒介多工高、低任務相關性如何透過內在、有效、及外在認知負荷及心流的連續中介，影響享樂型及安適型幸福感。本研究透過實驗室實驗法，採用單因子組間實驗設計（任務相關：低、高），總共招募122位受試者。研究結果顯示高任務相關媒介多工可以降低外在負荷，較低的外在負荷有利於多工時心流的產生，進而提升享樂型幸福感中的生活滿意度與正面情感，以及安適型幸福感。媒介多工任務相關性高低不影響內在與有效負荷，內在負荷也無法影響心流。這表明在媒介多工過程中，人們會自然地選擇避免處理過於複雜的資訊，以保持專注和心流狀態，進而提升幸福感。此研究不僅拓展了我們對媒介多工影響幸福感機制的理解，也為如何選擇多工內容來提升幸福感提供了實務建議。

This research examines how different levels of task relevance in media multitasking impact well-being. Media multitasking, defined as using devices like computers and tablets at the same time, is common in modern life. Many studies link multitasking to negative effects, such as higher stress, less positive emotion, and reduced life satisfaction. This study, however, offers a new perspective. It asks if media multitasking, especially with high task relevance, can improve well-being. The focus is on two types of well-being. The first is hedonic well-being, which involves life satisfaction and positive feelings. The second is peace-of-mind - a concept from Eastern philosophy that highlights emotional balance and inner calm.

Literature Review

The literature commonly links media multitasking to cognitive overload, which can strain a person’s mental resources and reduce well-being. Many studies suggest that unrelated content across multiple devices distracts one from cognitive tasks, creating an extraneous cognitive load that leads to emotional strain. Media multitasking often correlates with increased stress, decreased focus, and a lower sense of fulfillment. However, recent research suggests task relevance, or the alignment between multitasked content, can reduce these effects. High task relevance minimizes extraneous load, which can enable a focused, immersive state called flow. Flow in turn supports hedonic and peace-of-mind well-being, fostering satisfaction and balance. By shifting the focus from the frequency of multitasking to the relevance of multitasked content, this study explores whether high task relevance media multitasking enhances well-being.

Methods

The research uses a single-factor between-subjects’ experimental design. Participants, divided into high and low task relevance groups, included 122 university students, mainly female and aged between 20 and 28. To simulate real-world multitasking, participants used both a desktop computer and a tablet. In the high task relevance group, participants viewed a YouTube video on travel in Taiwan while browsing Instagram posts with related content. The low task relevance group watched the same travel-themed Instagram content, but viewed a YouTube video on an unrelated topic.
After the multitasking session, participants completed a questionnaire assessing intrinsic, germane, and extraneous cognitive load, as well as flow and well-being. Valid scales were used to measure each construct, ensuring reliable results. Data analysis employed Hayes’ PROCESS model, which helps clarify how cognitive load mediates the relationship between task relevance and well-being, thus revealing indirect effects through cognitive load and flow.

Results

This study successfully manipulated task relevance in media multitasking. Research Questions 1 and 2 explore whether varying levels of task relevance in media multitasking influence intrinsic and germane cognitive load. Hypothesis 1 predicts that high task relevance leads to lower extraneous load. The results show that task relevance in media multitasking does not significantly affect intrinsic or germane load. However, participants perceived lower extraneous load with higher task relevance, supporting Hypothesis 1. Research Question 3 examines the relationship between intrinsic load and flow. Hypothesis 2 predicts a positive effect of germane load on flow, while Hypothesis 3 suggests that extraneous load negatively impacts flow. Results indicate no significant relationship between intrinsic load and flow. However, germane load positively affects flow, supporting Hypothesis 2, while extraneous load negatively affects flow, supporting Hypothesis 3. Hypothesis 4 predicts that higher flow increases hedonic well-being, including life satisfaction (Hypothesis 4a) and positive affect (Hypothesis 4b). The results support both sub-hypotheses. Finally, the results show that flow positively influences peace-of-mind well-being, supporting Hypothesis 5.

Discussion and Conclusion

The findings herein suggest that media multitasking with high task relevance enhances well-being by reducing extraneous cognitive load and promoting flow. These results challenge the assumption that media multitasking is inherently detrimental, presenting a view where interrelated multitasking may support positive emotional and cognitive outcomes. High task relevance helps optimize cognitive processing, reducing unnecessary distractions and enabling flow. This finding expands the applications of cognitive load theory by highlighting the importance of extraneous load in determining the quality of multitasking and its effects on mental health.

This study also contributes to research on flow and well-being by including peace-of-mind, an Eastern concept of emotional stability. Unlike hedonic well-being, which focuses on positive affect and satisfaction, peace-of-mind reflects inner calm and balance. Examining both types of well-being offers a fuller view of how media multitasking influences mental health, hence bridging Eastern and Western perspectives.

These findings practically suggest that people who engage in media multitasking can benefit from strategies that prioritize high task relevance, minimizing cognitive interference and increasing flow. Such strategies may allow users to experience focused immersion, making multitasking more enjoyable and fulfilling. Additionally, the study highlights cognitive self-regulation, as individuals naturally avoid unrelated content during multitasking to prevent overload and maintain focus.

Despite these insights, the study has limitations. The sample consisted mainly of young university students, limiting the generalizability to other populations. Additionally, the controlled lab environment may not fully reflect real-world multitasking, which often involves more complex distractions. Future research should test these findings across a broader demographic range and in natural settings, such as workplaces or educational contexts.

In summary, this study offers new insights into how media multitasking with high task relevance supports well-being. By investigating the cognitive and emotional processes that underlie such multitasking, the study reveals the importance of task relevance as a factor that transforms media multitasking from a source of distraction to one that promotes well-being. The findings emphasize that high task relevance may provide a valuable approach for engaging in media multitasking without compromising mental health, offering guidance for designing media experiences that support both emotional stability and positive mental health.