TY - JOUR
T1 - Exploring the relationship between executive functions and self-reported media-multitasking in young adults
AU - Seddon, Alexandra L.
AU - Law, Anna S.
AU - Adams, Anne-Marie
AU - Simmons, Fiona R.
PY - 2018/9/21
Y1 - 2018/9/21
N2 - Media-multitasking involves simultaneous engagement with information streams from multiple media sources, and is most prevalent in young adults. Heavy media-multitasking has been associated with differential performance on tasks involving attentional control and working memory relative to light media-multitasking. The aim of the present study was to systematically investigate relationships between executive functions and self-reported media-multitasking. Healthy participants (N = 112, aged 18–25, male N = 36) completed a battery of 10 traditional executive function tasks, that included assessments of attentional inhibition, response inhibition, working memory, and cognitive flexibility. Scores on the individual executive function tasks were correlated against frequency of self-reported media-multitasking, but no significant relationships were found. Trait anxiety, however, was found to be significantly associated with greater frequency of self-reported media-multitasking. The present study found no evidence of a relationship between the frequency of self-reported media-multitasking and executive functioning. The possible reasons for this are discussed.
AB - Media-multitasking involves simultaneous engagement with information streams from multiple media sources, and is most prevalent in young adults. Heavy media-multitasking has been associated with differential performance on tasks involving attentional control and working memory relative to light media-multitasking. The aim of the present study was to systematically investigate relationships between executive functions and self-reported media-multitasking. Healthy participants (N = 112, aged 18–25, male N = 36) completed a battery of 10 traditional executive function tasks, that included assessments of attentional inhibition, response inhibition, working memory, and cognitive flexibility. Scores on the individual executive function tasks were correlated against frequency of self-reported media-multitasking, but no significant relationships were found. Trait anxiety, however, was found to be significantly associated with greater frequency of self-reported media-multitasking. The present study found no evidence of a relationship between the frequency of self-reported media-multitasking and executive functioning. The possible reasons for this are discussed.
KW - media-multitasking
KW - attentional inhibition
KW - working memory
KW - cognitive flexibility
KW - trait anxiety
U2 - 10.1080/20445911.2018.1525387
DO - 10.1080/20445911.2018.1525387
M3 - Article
SN - 2044-5911
VL - 30
SP - 728
EP - 742
JO - Journal of Cognitive Psychology
JF - Journal of Cognitive Psychology
IS - 7
ER -