Social media use improves executive functions in middle-aged and older adults: A structural equation modeling analysis

• Main Authors: KHOO, Shi Ann Shuna, YANG, Hwajin
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University 2020
• Subjects: Social media use; Executive functions; Social support; Perceived constraints; Older adults; Applied Behavior Analysis; Social Media; Social Psychology
• Online Access: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/soss_research/3189; https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/context/soss_research/article/4446/viewcontent/Social_media_improves_executive_fns_older_adults_sv.pdf
• Institution: Singapore Management University

Given the paucity of research on the cognitive implications of social media use in middle and late adulthood, we sought to understand the relations between middle-aged and older adults' social media use and their executive functions (EF)—a set of domain-general cognitive control processes—and the underlying mechanism. By analyzing a nationally representative cohort ranging from ages 40s–70s from the MIDUS Refresher Survey and Cognitive Project, we tested a serial mediation model with perception of social support and sense of control (i.e., personal mastery and perceived constraints) as sequential mediators in a structural equation modeling analysis. We found that perceived social support and constraints fully and serially mediated the relation of middle-aged and older adults' social media use for interpersonal interactions with EF. Our study demonstrates that middle-aged and older adults’ social media use for social connection can be a useful medium that protects against age-related cognitive decline in EF.