Predicting internet addiction through executive functions; emphasizing on the components of inhibition, working memory and cognitive flexibility among students of Allameh Tabataba'i University

Abstract

Introduction: Internet addiction can be explained by various factors, including executive functions as multifunctional neuropsychological structures. Aim: The purpose of this study is to predict internet addiction through executive functions among students of Allameh Tabataba'i University. Method: The present study is a correlational study and its statistical population consists of students of Allameh Tabataba’i University who have studied in the second semester of the 2019 academic year. The statistical sample of the study included 206 Undergraduate Student who were selected by available sampling in this study. In order to measure Internet addiction, the Young Internet Addiction Questionnaire was used and to evaluate the executive functions Go/No Go Task, N-Back Task and Wisconsin Card Classification Task (WCST) were used. Correlation and regression analysis were used to analyze the data. Data were analyzed using SPSS 25 statistical software. Results: The results of the analyzed data show that there was no relationship between working memory components (N-Back Test Series n2) and Internet addiction (P<0.05). However, there is a significant negative relationship between internet addiction (first-series N-BACK), working memory and disinhibition and a significant positive relationship between internet addiction and cognitive flexibility. (P<0.05) Conclusion: The results of this study showed that executive functions can predict internet addiction in students. Executive functions can also be considered as one of the contributing factors to the persistence of Internet addiction.

Keywords

• addiction psychiatry
• executive function
• working memory
• flexibility