Boredom proneness and short-video addiction among Chinese vocational college students: psychological resilience as a mediator and gender as a moderator

Objective This study examined the mechanism linking boredom proneness to short-video addiction among vocational college students, with psychological resilience as a mediator and gender as a moderator. Design A cross-sectional survey design was used to examine whether psychological resilience mediated the association between boredom proneness and short-video addiction, and whether gender moderated the direct and indirect pathways. Methods A questionnaire survey was conducted among 2,687 vocational college students in Guangxi, China, aged [18–21] years (M = 19.28, SD = 1.21). Measures of boredom proneness, psychological resilience, and short-video addiction were collected. Data were analyzed using PROCESS Model 58. Results Boredom proneness positively predicted short-video addiction. Psychological resilience partially mediated this relationship, indicating that boredom proneness not only directly increased short-video addiction but also indirectly increased it by diminishing psychological resilience. Gender significantly moderated this indirect pathway. Compared with female students, boredom proneness showed a stronger negative association with psychological resilience among male students. In addition, the protective effect of psychological resilience on short-video addiction was significant only among males, but not among females. The index of moderated mediation was significant, confirming gender differences in the indirect effect. Conclusion Boredom proneness influences short-video addiction through both direct and indirect pathways, and this mechanism varies by gender. These findings deepen understanding of how boredom proneness contributes to short-video addiction among vocational college students.