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Clinical Trial
. 2020 Mar 2;10(1):3866.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-60819-4.

Interactions of impulsivity, general executive functions, and specific inhibitory control explain symptoms of social-networks-use disorder: An experimental study

Elisa Wegmann  1 , Silke M Müller  1   2 , Ofir Turel  3   4 , Matthias Brand  5   6
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Interactions of impulsivity, general executive functions, and specific inhibitory control explain symptoms of social-networks-use disorder: An experimental study

Elisa Wegmann et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

While the use of social media and online-communication applications has become an integral part of everyday life, some individuals suffer from an excessive, uncontrolled use of social media despite experiencing negative consequences. In accordance with neuropsychological models of addiction, we assume the tendency of a social-networks-use disorder to be related to an interplay of predisposing personality traits (e.g., impulsivity), and reductions in cognitive functions (e.g., executive functions, inhibitory control). The current study makes first strides towards examining this interplay. In addition to a newly developed social-networks-specific auditory Go-NoGo paradigm, other neuropsychological paradigms were used. Impulsivity and social-networks-use-disorder symptoms were assessed by standardized questionnaires. The results show that the symptom severity of a social-networks-use disorder is mainly associated with attentional impulsivity. General executive functions and specific inhibitory control of social-networks-related cues have no direct effect on symptom severity. However, moderated regression analyses emphasize that increased symptom severity is associated with higher attentional impulsivity, especially if there are additionally reductions in executive functions or specific inhibitory control. The results complement previous findings and inform future research on social-networks-use disorder. The findings support the applicability of theoretical models of addictive behaviors to the social-networks-use disorder and point to social-networks-related specificities regarding attention-related facets.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Illustration of the I-PACE model for specific Internet-use disorders modified from Brand, et al.. The bold boxes and arrows highlighted in grey color indicate the components examined in the current study. Components in orange color represent those assumed for later stages of the addiction process.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Simple slopes for interaction effects of attentional impulsivity with two measures of general executive functions: (A) Trail Making Test (TMT-B) and (B) Modified Card Sorting Test (MCST) perseverative errors. Variables were grouped one standard deviation above (“high”) and below (“low”) the mean values. High values in TMT-B and MCST respectively represent low executive functions. *Slope is significant at p < 0.05.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Simple slopes for the interaction effect of attentional impulsivity with performance in the auditory Go-NoGo task. Variables were grouped one standard deviation above (“high”) and below (“low”) the mean values. High values in the Go-NoGo task represent weak performance. *Slope is significant at p < 0.05.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Visualization of the cues used in the auditory Go-NoGo task including social-networks-related ringtones. Each category contains two stimuli with different attributes (social media vs. analog and “wavy” vs. “bing”). The presentation of the stimuli were pseudorandomized see also.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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