Effect of digital natives on executive function: The mediating role of problematic Internet use

Abstract

The ever-increasing use of digital technology is considered to be related to the individual’s executive function. However, the mechanisms underlying this relationship remain unclear. This questionnaire-based study explored the mediating effect of problematic Internet use (PIU) in the relationship between digital natives and executive function. A total of 572 college students were enrolled to complete the measures of digital natives, PIU, executive function, and demographic variables. Structural equation models were adopted to examine the potential mediating effect of PIU on the relationship between digital natives and executive function. The results revealed that PIU mediates the relationship between global digital natives and global executive function. Moreover, the separate mediation models indicated that PIU mediated the relationship between four dimensions of digital natives and three executive function components. This study advances our knowledge of how digital natives are related to executive function. Education professionals should focus on college students suffering from excessive digital technology, particularly those with PIU.