Relationships between digital nativity, value orientation, and motivational interference among college students

• We investigated undergraduates' motivational interference after making a decision in the school-digital leisure conflict.
• Digital nativity positively affected motivational interference after a school decision.
• Achievement value orientation negatively affected motivational interference after a school decision.
• Achievement value orientation positively affected motivational interference after a leisure decision.
• Well-being value orientation positively affected motivational interference after a school decision.

Motivational interference is a prevalent phenomenon among students at different levels. In this study, we examined university students' motivational interference after making a decision in school-digital leisure conflict and its relationships with two antecedents, i.e., digital nativity and value orientation. Participants were Taiwanese university students (N = 1201) who responded to a questionnaire. The data showed support for a positive path between digital nativity and motivational interference after a school decision, but not for the path between digital nativity and motivational interference after a leisure decision. In addition, achievement value orientation showed a negative effect on motivational interference after a school decision and a positive effect on motivational interference after a leisure decision. In contrast, well-being value orientation had a positive effect on motivational interference after a school decision but no significant effect on motivational interference after a leisure decision.