social networks use and executive functions: the mediating role of social cognition in university students

Introduction: this study aimed to examine the relationship between the extent of social network use and executive functions, with the mediating role of social cognition.method: the research is fundamental in nature and employs a descriptive-correlational design using structural equation modeling (sem) for data analysis. the population consisted of all students at imam khomeini international university in qazvin across all academic levels during the 2023–2024 academic year. a sample of 250 students was selected through cluster random sampling. data were collected using the social networks usage questionnaire (snuq), the barkley deficits in executive functioning scale (bdefs), and the social cognition questionnaire (scq). structural equation modeling (sem) was conducted using amos 24.results: the proposed model demonstrated good fit indices. social network use showed a significant positive effect on executive dysfunction (β = 0.27, p = .001) and a negative effect on social cognition (β = −0.51, p = .001). social cognition negatively predicted executive dysfunction (β = −0.58, p = .001), mediating the relationship between social network use and executive functions (indirect effect = 0.31, 95%).conclusion: excessive social network use may impair social cognition and executive functioning both directly and indirectly. these findings highlight the importance of fostering digital literacy to mitigate the cognitive consequences of problematic social media use.