The Relationship Between TikTok Usage and Executive Function Is Mediated by Problematic Social Media Use
Golding J, Rallison A, Zhang K, Awan A, Romero F, Lacbain J, Lee S, Momand S, Azer L, Zhang W
Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 3 citations
How it was studied
- Design
- Cross-sectional study (classified by our AI screen)
- Studied in
- People
- Main outcome
- Health markers and function
Who paid for it
- Funding
- Independent funding
- Government
- National Institute of Mental Health
- Government
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
- Government
- NIMH
- Government
- NCATS NIH HHS
- Grants
- National Institute of Mental Health (R01 MH117132); National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (T32 TR005459)
Based on 4 listed funder(s) and full-text disclosure statement.
Publication
- Published
- 2025-12-18 · Behav Sci (Basel) · vol. 15 · issue 12 · p. 1748
- Publisher
- Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
- Cited
- 6 citations · more than 98% of similar papers · 11.4× the field average
- Impact
- Top 10% most cited in its field
- References
- 57 works
- Access
- Open access (journal) · CC-BY
- Research areas
- Impact of Technology on Adolescents · Digital Marketing and Social Media · Child Development and Digital Technology
- Keywords
- TikTok, social media addiction, executive function, social media use intensity, mediation, university students, mental health, short video platforms
10 authors
From US
- Jordan Golding · correspondingUniversity of California, Riverside
- Anya RallisonUniversity of California, Riverside
- Kyra ZhangUniversity of California, Riverside
- Aisha AwanUniversity of California, Riverside
- Francisco RomeroUniversity of California, Riverside
- Jillia LacbainUniversity of California, Riverside
Abstract
Social media is deeply integrated into life, offering new opportunities for learning and communication. However, excessive use has been linked to negative effects on well-being and cognitive functions. A rapidly growing platform, TikTok has been a focal point of controversy due to concerns over its short-form content. The present study investigates the relationship between TikTok usage, problematic social media use (PSMU), and executive function (EF) to distinguish platform-specific features from broader patterns of problematic use. A survey conducted with 346 college students measured EF, TikTok use intensity, PSMU, and mental health variables. The findings indicate that while PSMU and TikTok use correlate with EF dysfunction, TikTok use is not a significant predictor when PSMU and mental health factors are statistically accounted for. Mediation analysis suggests that PSMU mediates the relationship between TikTok use and EF impairment, indicating that problematic media use-rather than platform-specific characteristics-relates to poor cognition connected to social media. These results contribute to the growing literature on digital media's cognitive effects, underscoring the importance of addressing problematic usage patterns rather than focusing on individual platforms. Additionally, the association of PSMU with EF impairments and poor mental health reinforces the need for interventions targeting excessive social media engagement.
Abstract via Europe PMC. Copyright remains with the authors or publisher (CC BY).
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