Media Multitasking and Cognitive Failures: Examining Attention Lapses and Memory Complaints among Indian Young Adults

There is a general concern among professionals in clinical psychology that the cognitive and psychological effects of media multitasking are becoming a problem among young adults. Young adults who often engage in media multitasking, such as using a social networking site, watching streaming video, and playing video games at the same time, might experience problems with attention regulation and cognitive functioning. This study aims to determine if there is a correlation between media multitasking and memory issues and inattention among young adults in India. N=150 participants aged 18 to 29 years old were included in this study. These participants were administered the Media Multitasking Revised Scale (MMT-R), Memory Complaint Questionnaire (MCQ), and Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ). The findings of Pearson’s correlation revealed significant positive associations between media multitasking and memory complaints, r(148) = .29, p < .001, and attentional lapses, r(148) = .67, p < .001. Furthermore, the findings revealed that media multitasking is a significant predictor of memory complaints, R² = .09, and inattention, R² = .45. The findings therefore suggest that media multitasking is associated with the decline in cognitive functioning of young adults in real life, which further features clinical inference for the young adults’ attentional lapses and cognitive health.