A – 23 Gender Moderates the Association Between Cognitive Disengagement Syndrome and Peer Functioning in Emerging Adults

Abstract Objective Cognitive disengagement syndrome (CDS), characterized by frequent daydreaming, mental fogginess, and sluggishness, has been linked to attentional and executive function difficulties, potentially implicating frontoparietal brain networks and neurodevelopmental pathways. While CDS has been associated with social impairments in youth, this relationship has not been examined in young adults. The current study investigated the association between CDS symptoms and social functioning in college students, with gender examined as a moderator. Method Participants were 2,346 college students recruited from a five-university research consortium. The sample was largely female (66%) and White (82%). Students completed self-report measures of CDS symptoms, social functioning, mental health (ADHD, anxiety, depression), and relationship satisfaction. Results CDS symptoms were significantly associated with social impairment on the Weiss Functional Impairment Rating Scale - Social subscale (β = .35, p < .001), even after controlling for ADHD, anxiety, and depression symptoms. Gender moderated this association (β = −.28, p < .001), such that men with higher CDS symptoms reported greater impairment than women. Similar patterns emerged for related aspects of social dysfunction. Family functioning was not significantly associated with CDS symptoms after adjusting for mental health covariates. Conclusion CDS is linked to impairments in peer relationships among college students, particularly in men. These findings suggest that attentional disengagement and executive function difficulties-core features of CDS-may disrupt social functioning during emerging adulthood. They may also inform future research into neurodevelopmental pathways by which cognitive disengagement impacts social functioning. Findings support the utility of group-based, social skills interventions tailored for college students with elevated CDS symptoms.