Deficits in executive functions but not in decision making under risk in individuals with problematic social-network use.
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2021
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Comprehensive Psychiatry
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Abstract
Background: The tendency to strive for immediate gratification by neglecting potential negative long-term
outcomes characterizes addictive behaviors, such as substance use or gaming disorder. Problematic socialnetwork
use is currently discussed as another potential addictive behavior, which is considered to result from
an imbalance between affective and cognitive processes, indicated by traits such as increased impulsivity and/
or decreased executive functions and decision-making abilities.
Methods: This study investigates the respective functions in social-network users by use of the Cards and Lottery
Task (CLT) – a decision-making task under risk conditions in which options contain conflicting immediate and
long-term outcomes at the same time. A sample of German and Spanish participants (N = 290) performed the
CLT aswell as the Modified Card Sorting Test (MCST), Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS), the short Internet Addiction
Test specified for social-networking (sIAT-SNS), and screeners on other potentially problematic behaviors.
Results: Comparing extreme groups based on sIAT-SNS scores (1SD above/below mean), individuals with
problematic social-network use (n = 56), as compared to those with non-problematic social-network use
(n = 50), showed increased attentional impulsivity and reduced executive functions. No differences were
observed in decision-making performance.
Conclusion: The findings indicate that problematic social-network use is related to attentional rather than general
decision-making deficits. Furthermore, problematic social-network use is likely to co-occurwith other problematic
Internet-use behaviors, particularly gaming or shopping.
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Keywords
Cognition, Decision-making, Impulsivity, Internet-use disorder, Addiction, Risky behaviors