Pathway Linking Problematic WeChat Use to Executive Functioning Among the Younger Generation: Mediating Effects of Depressive Symptoms and Subjective Chronic Fatigue

Problematic social media use has largely foregrounded emotional and mental health outcomes, whereas cognitive outcomes remain underexamined. Anchored in the Stressor–Strain–Outcome (SSO) framework, this study tests whether depressive symptoms and subjective fatigue mediate the association between problematic WeChat use and executive functioning. A cross-sectional survey of China WeChat users recruited via purposive sampling was analyzed using PLS-SEM. Results indicated that Problematic WeChat use was positively associated with depressive symptoms and subjective fatigue; in turn associated with poorer executive functioning. Indirect effects from problematic WeChat use on executive functioning via depressive symptoms and subjective fatigue were statistically significant. These findings extend the applications of the SSO framework and media scholarship to cognitive outcomes and underscore the importance of considering co-occurring emotional and physiological strains. Practically, the results suggest that youth-focused digital well-being efforts should be monitored alongside the prevention and supportive strategies for youth psychological well-being.