The Mediating Role of Problematic Social Media Use Between Emotional-Cognitive Vulnerabilities and Psychological Distress and Dysexecutive Symptoms in Young Adults: A Structural Equation Model

Abstract Previous research has identified several risk factors involved in Problematic Social Media Use (PSMU) related to personal, cognitive, emotional, and executive dimensions. However, there is limited literature on the key factors associated with PSMU and how this condition might mediate the relationship between emotional and cognitive factors and executive dysfunction and psychological distress. The present study examined the role of emotional dysregulation and avoidant decision-making style on PSMU, as well as the link between PSMU, dysexecutive symptoms, and psychological distress based on the Interaction of Person-Affect-Cognition-Execution (I-PACE) model. A cross-sectional study of 956 university students (67.6% women, M age = 21.22, SD = 4.22, range 17–30) was conducted. Participants completed self-report measures of PSMU (BSMAS), emotional dysregulation (DERS-16), avoidant decision-making style (GDMS), dysexecutive symptoms (PSI-20), and psychological distress (DASS-21). A structural equation model (SEM) was used to examine the direct effects of emotional dysregulation and avoidant decision-making style on PSMU, as well as the mediating role of PSMU on the relationship between emotional and cognitive dimensions and dysexecutive symptoms and psychological distress. The SEM demonstrated good fit to the data, χ 2 (114) = 481, p < .001, χ 2 /df = 4.22 CFI = .995, TLI = .995, SRMR = .053, RMSEA = .058, 95% CI [.053, .063]; p = .007). The positive direct effects of emotional dysregulation ( β = .80) and avoidant decision-making style ( β = .18) on PSMU were significant. In turn, PSMU was positively associated with psychological distress ( β = .80), and dysexecutive symptoms ( β = .93). Significant indirect effects were found between the affective and cognitive dimensions and dysexecutive symptoms and psychological distress through PSMU. Emotional dysregulation and avoidant decision-making style were significantly associated with higher levels of PSMU. In addition, greater PSMU was associated with increased psychological distress and more pronounced dysexecutive symptoms. These findings are consistent with the I-PACE model emphasizing the interplay between affective, cognitive, and behavioral processes in problematic online behaviors. Longitudinal research is needed to clarify the temporal ordering and potential reciprocity of these associations.