Recently, social media addiction (SMA) has increased globally. Like other addictions, it can have detrimental effects on individuals. Despite growing concerns, limited research has explored the relationship between SMA and critical thinking (CT) and the mechanisms underlying this connection. Therefore, this study investigated this relationship by focusing on executive function (EF) as a potential mediator. A survey using the Internet Addiction Test-Social Networking Sites (IAT–SNS) version, Critical Thinking Disposition, and Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function—Adult Version (BRIEF-A) was conducted with 307 Iranian young adults aged 18 to 40 years (M = 23.35, SD = 4.45; 72.6% female). The findings revealed a significant positive association between executive dysfunction and SMA and a significant negative association between executive dysfunction and CT. Structural equation modeling indicated no direct correlation between SMA and CT; rather, the relationship was mediated by EF, with only the indirect effects via EF being statistically significant. These results suggest that executive dysfunction acts as a risk-enhancing mediator in the relationship between SMA and CT. Further experimental studies are required to gain a more comprehensive understanding of these associations. Interventions should be developed to mitigate the negative effects of SMA on EF and CT.
AïmeurE.AmriS.BrassardG. (2023). Fake news, disinformation and misinformation in social media: A review. Social Network Analysis and Mining, 13(1), 30. https://doi.org/10.1007/S13278-023-01028-5
2.
AydınO.ObućaF.BozC.Ünal-AydınP. (2020). Associations between executive functions and problematic social networking sites use. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 42(6), 634–645. https://doi.org/10.1080/13803395.2020.1798358
3.
BarkleyR. A.FischerM. (2019). Hyperactive child syndrome and estimated life expectancy at young adult follow-up: The role of ADHD persistence and other potential predictors. Journal of Attention Disorders, 23(9), 907–923. https://doi.org/10.1177/1087054718816164
4.
BombonatoC.Del LuccheseB.RuffiniC.Di LietoM. C.BrovedaniP.SgandurraG.CioniG.PeciniC. (2024). Far transfer effects of trainings on executive functions in neurodevelopmental disorders: A systematic review and metanalysis. Neuropsychology Review, 34(1), 98–133. https://doi.org/10.1007/S11065-022-09574-Z
5.
ButlerH. A.PentoneyC.BongM. P. (2017). Predicting real-world outcomes: Critical thinking ability is a better predictor of life decisions than intelligence. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 25, 38–46. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.TSC.2017.06.005
6.
ChengL.FangG.ZhangX.LvY.LiuL. (2023). Impact of social media use on critical thinking ability of university students. Library Hi Tech, 42(2), 642–669. https://doi.org/10.1108/LHT-11-2021-0393
7.
ChinW. W.MarcelinB. L.NewstedP. R. (2003). A partial least squares latent variable modeling approach for measuring interaction effects: Results from a Monte Carlo simulation study and an electronic-mail emotion/adoption study. Information Systems Research, 14(2), 127–219. https://doi.org/10.1287/ISRE.14.2.189.16018
8.
FacioneP. A. (2000). The disposition toward critical thinking: Its character, measurement, and relationship to critical thinking skill. Informal Logic, 20(1), 61–84. https://doi.org/10.22329/IL.V20I1.2254
9.
FieldA. P. (2005). Discovering statistics using SPSS: And sex and drugs and rock “n” roll (2nd ed.). Sage.
10.
FornellC.BooksteinF. L. (1982). Two structural equation models: LISREL and PLS applied to consumer exit-voice theory. Journal of Marketing Research, 19(4), 440–452. https://doi.org/10.2307/3151718
11.
FornellC.LarckerD. F. (1981). Evaluating structural equation models with unobservable variables and measurement error. Journal of Marketing Research, 18(1), 39–50. https://doi.org/10.2307/3151312
12.
GaskinsS.AlcaláL. (2023). Studying executive function in culturally meaningful ways. Journal of Cognition and Development, 24(2), 260–279. https://doi.org/10.1080/15248372.2022.2160722
13.
GhorbandordinejadF.NourizadeF. (2015). Examination of the relationship between critical thinking disposition and English learning achievement as mediated by emotional intelligence. The International Journal of Humanities, 22(4), 95–110. https://eijh.modares.ac.ir/article_17760.html
GriffithsM. D.KussD. J.DemetrovicsZ. (2014). Social networking addiction: An overview of preliminary findings. In RosenbergK. P.Curtiss FederL. (Eds.), Behavioral addictions: Criteria, evidence, and treatment (pp. 119–141). Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-407724-9.00006-9
16.
HairJ. F.HultG. T. M.RingleC. M.SarstedtM.DanksN. P.RayS. (2021). Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) using R. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-80519-7
17.
HalpernD. F.DunnD. S. (2021). Critical thinking: A model of intelligence for solving real-world problems. Journal of Intelligence, 9(2), 22. https://doi.org/10.3390/JINTELLIGENCE9020022
18.
HashemiY.ZaraniF.HeidariM.BorhaniK.ShakibaS. (2021). Psychometric properties of the Persian internet addiction test-social networking sites version: Dimensionality assessment of social networking site addiction. Addiction & Health, 13(2), 95–105. https://doi.org/10.22122/AHJ.V13I2.289
19.
KuK. Y. L.KongQ.SongY.DengL.KangY.HuA. (2019). What predicts adolescents’ critical thinking about real-life news? The roles of social media news consumption and news media literacy. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 33, 100570. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.TSC.2019.05.004
20.
KussD. J.GriffithsM. D. (2017). Social networking sites and addiction: Ten lessons learned. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(3), 311. https://doi.org/10.3390/IJERPH14030311
21.
KustijonoR.ZuhriF. (2018). The use of Facebook and WhatsApp application in learning process of physics to train students’ critical thinking skills. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 296(1), 012025. https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/296/1/012025
22.
LiS.RenX.SchweizerK.BrinthauptT. M.WangT. (2021). Executive functions as predictors of critical thinking: Behavioral and neural evidence. Learning and Instruction, 71, 101376. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.LEARNINSTRUC.2020.101376
23.
LinC.NamdarA. P.GriffithsM. D.PakpourA. H. (2021). Mediated roles of generalized trust and perceived social support in the effects of problematic social media use on mental health: A cross-sectional study. Health Expectations, 24(1), 165–173. https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.13169
24.
LiuX.HanX.WangT.RenX. (2024). An account of the relationship between critical thinking and fluid intelligence in considering executive functions. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 52, 101538. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.TSC.2024.101538
25.
MacheteP.TurpinM. (2020). The use of critical thinking to identify fake news: A systematic literature review. Responsible Design, Implementation and Use of Information and Communication Technology, 12067, 235–246. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-45002-1_20
26.
MalakM. Z.ShuhaiberA. H.Al-amerR. M.AbuadasM. H.AburoomiR. J. (2022). Correlation between psychological factors, academic performance and social media addiction: Model-based testing. Behaviour and Information Technology, 41(8), 1583–1595. https://doi.org/10.1080/0144929X.2021.1891460
27.
MenichelliM.BracciniA. M. (2020). Millennials, information assessment, and social media: An exploratory study on the assessment of critical thinking habits. Lecture Notes in Information Systems and Organization, 33, 85–97. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-23665-6_7
28.
MohammadniaS.BigdeliI.MashhadiA.Ghanaei ChamanabadA.RothR. M. (2022). Behavior rating inventory of executive function - Adult version (BRIEF-A) in Iranian university students: Factor structure and relationship to depressive symptom severity. Applied Neuropsychology: Adult, 29(4), 786–792. https://doi.org/10.1080/23279095.2020.1810689
29.
MuppallaS. K.VuppalapatiS.Reddy PulliahgaruA.SreenivasuluH. (2023). Effects of excessive screen time on child development: An updated review and strategies for management. Cureus, 15(6), Article e40608. https://doi.org/10.7759/CUREUS.40608
30.
NeoM. (2003). Developing a collaborative learning environment using a web-based design. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 19(4), 462–473. https://doi.org/10.1046/J.0266-4909.2003.00050
31.
NiuL.Behar-HorensteinL. S.GarvanC. W. (2013). Do instructional interventions influence college students’ critical thinking skills? A meta-analysis. Educational Research Review, 9, 114–128. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.EDUREV.2012.12.002
32.
NooneC.BuntingB.HoganM. J. (2016). Does mindfulness enhance critical thinking? Evidence for the mediating effects of executive functioning in the relationship between mindfulness and critical thinking. Frontiers in Psychology, 6, 2043. https://doi.org/10.3389/FPSYG.2015.02043
RickettsJ. C.RuddR. D. (2005). Critical thinking skills of selected youth leaders: The efficacy of critical thinking dispositions, leadership, and academic performance. Journal of Agricultural Education, 46(1), 32–43. https://doi.org/10.5032/JAE.2005.01032
35.
RothR. M.IsquithP. K.GioiaG. A. (2022). Behavior rating inventory of executive Function®--Adult version. PsycTESTS Dataset. https://doi.org/10.1037/T86244-000
36.
Sanz de Acedo LizarragaM. L.Sanz de Acedo BaquedanoM. T.VillanuevaO. A. (2012). Critical thinking, executive functions and their potential relationship. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 7(3), 271–279. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.TSC.2012.04.008
37.
SaticiB.RifatA.MarkK. (2023). Exploring the association between social media addiction and relationship satisfaction: Psychological distress as a mediator. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 21(4), 2037–2051. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-021-00658-0
38.
SkS.HalderS. (2020). Critical thinking disposition of undergraduate students in relation to emotional intelligence: Gender as a moderator. Heliyon, 6(11), Article e05477. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.HELIYON.2020.E05477
39.
SoaresL.ThorellL. B.BarbiM.CrisciG.NutleyS. B.BurénJ. (2023). The role of executive function deficits, delay aversion and emotion dysregulation in internet gaming disorder and social media disorder: Links to psychosocial outcomes. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 12(1), 94–104. https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.2023.00007
40.
SorianoH.BastidaG. (2024). Social media engagement and students’ critical thinking disposition influenced by their information skills. Journal of Interdisciplinary Perspectives, 2(12), 453–460. https://doi.org/10.69569/JIP.2024.0579
41.
StănculescuE.GriffithsM. D. (2022). Social media addiction profiles and their antecedents using latent profile analysis: The contribution of social anxiety, gender, and age. Telematics and Informatics, 74, 101879. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.TELE.2022.101879
42.
SteinertS.MarinL.RoeserS. (2025). Feeling and thinking on social media: Emotions, affective scaffolding, and critical thinking. Inquiry (United Kingdom), 68(1), 114–141. https://doi.org/10.1080/0020174X.2022.2126148
43.
SuW.HanX.YuH.WuY.PotenzaM. N. (2020). Do men become addicted to internet gaming and women to social media? A meta-analysis examining gender-related differences in specific internet addiction. Computers in Human Behavior, 113, 106480. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.CHB.2020.106480
44.
SümenA.EvginD. (2021). Social Media Addiction in High School Students: A Cross-Sectional Study Examining Its Relationship with Sleep Quality and Psychological Problems.Child indicators research, 14(6), 2265–2283. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12187-021-09838-9
45.
ThomasD. (2020). Social media addiction, critical thinking and achievement emotions among EFL students in Thailand. Asia Pacific Journal of Educators and Education, 35(1), 157–171. https://doi.org/10.21315/APJEE2020.35.1.9
46.
ToplakM. E.WestR. F.StanovichK. E. (2013). Practitioner review: Do performance-based measures and ratings of executive function assess the same construct?Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines, 54(2), 131–143. https://doi.org/10.1111/JCPP.12001
47.
WilliamsL.LahmanM. (2011). Online discussion, student engagement, and critical thinking. Journal of Political Science Education, 7(2), 143–162. https://doi.org/10.1080/15512169.2011.564919
48.
WilmerH. H.CheinJ. M. (2016). Mobile technology habits: Patterns of association among device usage, intertemporal preference, impulse control, and reward sensitivity. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 23(5), 1607–1614. https://doi.org/10.3758/S13423-016-1011-Z
49.
WuA. M. S.CheungV. I.KuL.HungE. P. W. (2013). Psychological risk factors of addiction to social networking sites among Chinese smartphone users. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 2(3), 160–166. https://doi.org/10.1556/JBA.2.2013.006
50.
ZhangK.LiP.ZhaoY.GriffithsM. D.WangJ.ZhangM. X. (2023). Effect of social media addiction on executive functioning among young adults: The mediating roles of emotional disturbance and sleep quality. Psychology Research and Behavior Management, 16, 1911–1920. https://doi.org/10.2147/PRBM.S414625
51.
ZhouZ.ZhouH.ZhuH. (2016). Working memory, executive function and impulsivity in Internet-addictive disorders: A comparison with pathological gambling. Acta Neuropsychiatrica, 28(2), 92–100. https://doi.org/10.1017/NEU.2015.54
