The mediating role of cyberloafing in the relationship between loneliness perception at workplace and individual performance: The case of Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University

The purpose of this study is to examine how academics' performance is affected when they experience loneliness at work and the mediating role of cyberloafing in this. In order to achieve this purpose, a survey was conducted with 330 academic staff working at Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University. The first part of the questionnaire applied to the participants consists of scales on cyberloafing, loneliness at work and individual performance, and the second part consists of demographic characteristics. In the study, "Perception of Loneliness at Work", "Individual Performance of Academicians", and "Cyberloafing" were used respectively as independent variable, dependent variable and mediator. With the data obtained from 330 academic staff participating in the research, descriptive statistics, difference analyzes, and correlation analysis were performed using the SPSS program in line with the purpose of the research. In addition, to test the created model, a mediation analysis was performed through the Process Macro application added to the SPSS program. Analysis results indicates that while loneliness at work affects individual performance and cyberloafing negatively, effect of cyberloafing on individual performance positively. In addition, the results of the mediation analysis showed that the indirect effect of cyberloafing was not significant on the effect of loneliness at work on individual performance.