Internet Addiction among Young Adult University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Peritraumatic Distress, Attachment, and Alexithymia

Abstract

The literature focused on the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on young adult university students’ mental health shows a significant increase in psychopathological symptoms and Internet Addiction (IA). The key role played by attachment and alexithymia has also been suggested, but no study has explored the possible dynamic relationship between these variables. We recruited a sample of n = 410 young adult university students online. We assessed the attachment to parents and peers (through IPPA), alexithymia (through TAS-20), peritraumatic distress symptoms due to COVID-19 (through CPDI), and IA (through IAT). The results showed that the relationship between the attachment to mothers and IA was partially mediated by alexithymia and by the serial mediation of alexithymia and peritraumatic distress, whereas the influence of the attachment to fathers on IA was fully mediated by peritraumatic distress. The direct effects of the attachment to peers on alexithymia, peritraumatic distress, and IA were all significant, as were the indirect paths via the simple mediation of both alexithymia and peritraumatic distress and the multiple serial mediation of alexithymia and peritraumatic distress. Our findings suggested that the relationship between attachment, alexithymia, and psychopathological risk is dynamic in predicting IA during the pandemic among young adult university students and that the different attachment figures exert a peculiar contribution to these processes.

Inferiority feelings and internet addiction among Turkish University students in the context of COVID-19: The mediating role of emotion dysregulation

“…As already highlighted, studies conducted in different stages of the COVID-19 pandemic have revealed a positive corelation between different distress symptoms (e.g., specific phobia, anxiety, depression, avoidance behaviors, and compulsive behaviors) and internet addiction in samples of university students (e.g., Karakose, 2022 ; Priego-Parra et al, 2020 ; Servidio et al, 2021 ). As a result, many scholars have suggested that internet addiction might be a coping strategy employed by those with existing psychopathological difficulties (Marzilli et al, 2022 ). The positive correlation between inferiority feelings and internet addiction found in the present study might also point to a similar mechanism.…”

“…It appears to have escalated its prevalence and severity since the outbreak of the pandemic, largely due to the reasons related to the strict precautions implemented during the pandemic, such as increased social isolation and the need for easy information (Li et al, 2021;Masaeli & Farhadi, 2021;Sun et al, 2020). Given the comorbidity between internet addiction and other psychological problems, especially depression and anxiety (Li et al, 2019;Soulioti et al, 2018), the rise in the Internet addiction problem during the pandemic has become a topic of increased concern (Marzilli et al, 2022). Having had to abruptly adapt to a wide array of challenges related to the pandemic, such as online classes, online assessments, and isolation from peers, university students, including those in Turkey, were specifically susceptible to the pandemic's detrimental effects on psychosocial functioning (Cam et al, 2022;Fila-Witecka et al, 2022;Savage et al, 2020), and Internet addiction (Mota et al, 2021;Varer Akpinar et al, 2022).…”

“…Not surprisingly, associations between various distress symptoms (e.g., specific phobia, anxiety, depression, avoidance behaviors, and compulsive behaviors) and internet addiction have been supported among university students both immediately following the onset of COVID-19 (Priego-Parra et al, 2020;Servidio et al, 2021) and in the subsequent stages of the pandemic (Karakose, 2022). Although it has been highlighted that these associations may be reciprocal and bidirectional, recent researchers have suggested that internet addiction might be a potential coping strategy employed by those with already existing psychopathological difficulties (Marzilli et al, 2022). The Adlerian construct of inferiority feelings, as a challenging psychological experience, may be particularly important when it comes to explaining internet addiction during the pandemic, both directly and indirectly through its potential relationship to increased emotion dysregulation.…”

A Study on Internet Addiction among Female Madrasa Students

“…The majority period for using the Internet is at midnight, and using the Internet for leisure is one of the significant predictors of Internet addiction. Marzilli et al (2022), who examined how the COVID-19 pandemic affected young adult university students' mental health, found that psychopathological symptoms and Internet addiction significantly increased (IA). Alexithymia and attachment have also been cited as playing important roles, although no study has looked into how these factors might interact dynamically.…”

The Relationship Between Obesity and Internet Addiction in University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…The widespread availability of high-speed internet, coupled with the need to research, complete assignments, and stay connected with peers, contributes to the increased risk of developing problematic internet use among university students. 17 Research has indicated a potential link between internet addiction and obesity, with excessive time spent online leading to a sedentary lifestyle, decreased physical activity, and weight gain. For university students, the allure of the internet lead to irregular eating patterns and unhealthy food choices as they mindlessly snack while immersed in their devices.…”