Temperament, media behavior, and executive functioning in early adolescence

• In Event: Poster Session 07
  In Poster Session: PS 07 Topic - Technology, Media & Child Development

Abstract

Relationships have been investigated and established between certain aspects of media behavior and executive functioning (EF) in adolescence. Results in the literature are mixed and sometimes incongruent, which might point towards possible conditional effects of media use on cognitive functioning in adolescence. Some aspects of temperament, such as effortful control, have been linked with problematic media behavior at this age, such as Problematic Internet Use. However, this relationship has been scarcely studied at normative levels of media use and temperament has never been investigated in relation to media multitasking, as a specific aspect of media behavior. The present research aims at investigating the relationship between temperamental traits, media multitasking (MM) and EF in early adolescence. To this end, 100 early adolescents (about 11 – 14 years old) will complete two sets of online self-reported questionnaires measuring 4 temperamental dimensions (negative emotionality, effortful control, activity level/extraversion and sociability), time spent with media and MM, and EF problems in five domains (inhibition, shifting, working memory, emotional control and monitoring).
We expect that different aspects of temperament will be significantly related to MM in the present sample. For example, we expect that higher levels of negative emotionality will be related to higher frequency of MM while higher levels of effortful control will be related to lower levels of MM. We also expect that temperamental traits will be differentially related to EF problems. For example, we expect that higher levels of effortful control will be related to fewer self-reported EF problems, while higher levels of negative emotionality and extraversion will be related to more frequent self-reported EF problems.
In order to test these relationships between temperament and MM, and those between temperament and EF problems we will conduct multiple linear regressions, controlled for biological sex, age and time spent with media.
Data collection for this study has already begun in July 2020 and 54 early adolescents (23 boys and 31 girls), aged between 11.5 – 14.5 years old (M = 13.043, SD = 0.81 years) have completed the questionnaires so far. For the remainder of the participants, the process of data collection is ongoing, and we plan to have the data analyzed by January 2021.
Preliminary data show significant correlations between Temperament and EF problems. For example, temperamental Frustration (an aspect of negative emotionality) is positively related to EF problems in Inhibition (p = .39, p = .007) and to MM with other media activities (r = .35, p = .011).
If these relationships are found to be significant, they will be relevant for better understanding media behavior and its correlates in adolescence. Moreover, specific recommendations for managing adolescents’ media activity online can be offered based on individual temperamental traits. This is important especially in the current pandemic climate when a great part of school activity has been transferred online and media distractions are more accessible than ever.

Authors

• Doris Antonia Rogobete, Universitatea Babeș-Bolyai
  Presenting Author

• Thea Ionescu, Universitatea Babeș-Bolyai
  Non-Presenting Author

• Mircea Miclea, Universitatea Babeș-Bolyai
  Non-Presenting Author