Executive function in adolescents with problematic smartphone use Tauste-Garcia, Irene Nieto Ruiz, Ana María Moreno Padilla, María Martín Tamayo, Ignacio Fernández-Serrano, María José Executive functioning Problematic smartphone use Adolescents Adolescence is a crucial stage for prefrontal cortex development, a brain area responsible for control goal-oriented behaviours, known as executive functioning (EF). Consequently, adolescents have a greater risk of problematic smartphone use (PSU). The current study aimed to examine the EF in adolescents with and without PSU. The participants included 110 students (44.5% males) ranging in age from 13 to 18 years (M = 15.77; SD = 1.84). They completed a PSU scale and a set of tasks that assess the components of the EF system. Parents were also asked to evaluate their children’s EF using a behaviour rating inventory. We found significant differences between problematic and non-problematic smartphone users on parent-report measures but not on performance-based measures. These results indicate that adolescents with PSU may show greater difficulties in regulating their own behaviour and emotional responses, but they can manage their cognitive processes effectively. 2025-10-09T10:31:47Z 2025-10-09T10:31:47Z 2025 journal article Tauste-Garcia, I., Nieto-Ruiz, A., Moreno-Padilla, M., Martin-Tamayo, I., & Fernandez-Serrano, M. J. (2025). Executive function in adolescents with problematic smartphone use. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 30(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2025.2562950 https://hdl.handle.net/10481/106912 10.1080/02673843.2025.2562950 eng http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ open access Atribución-NoComercial 4.0 Internacional Taylor & Francis Group