Rates of Alexithymia and Its Association With Smartphone Addiction Among a Sample of University Students in Egypt

Abstract

Introduction: Alexithymia is characterized by difficulties in describing feelings. Many studies have shown that there is a relation between alexithymia and different types of addictions. Nowadays, smartphone addiction is proposed to be a global problem. The current study focuses on the rates of alexithymia and its association with smartphone addiction in an Egyptian university. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study that was conducted in Ain Shams University. A sample of 200 university students was surveyed using Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS) and Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV). Results: The results showed that 44 students (22%) had alexithymia. It was also found that around one third of the sample (N=65, 32.5%) met the criteria of smartphone addiction. There was a strong association between alexithymia and smartphone addiction (OR=4.33, 95% CI 2.15-8.74, p= < 0.001). Conclusion: This study supports existing literature indicating the strong association between alexithymia and smartphone addiction.

The Relationship of Smartphone Addiction and Alexithymia

“…These findings are compatible with the recent studies which reported that smartphone use is associated with alexithymia. 15,21,[23][24][25] In the light of the literature, probable conceptual explanations may be suggested for the relationship between alexithymia and SA. It is known that alexithymia is a stable personality trait that includes low self-esteem, difficulty in establishing healthy and sincere social relationships, a tendency to externalize feelings and experiences, inability to correctly identify and manage emotional states, as well as a diminished ability to identify and explain emotions.…”

“…Alexithymia was positively associated with mental health problems and SA. 15,[22][23][24] For example, previous studies have identified that alexithymia is associated with the severity of Internet addiction, problematic Internet use, and mobile phone use. 15,[25][26][27] Right at this point, this expected relation might have various reasons.…”

“…Several previous studies investigating the relationship between alexithymia and SA were interesting. Alexithymia was positively associated with mental health problems and SA [ 15 , 22 - 24 ]. For example, previous studies have identified that alexithymia is associated with the severity of Internet addiction, problematic Internet use, and mobile phone use [ 15 , 25 - 27 ].…”

Effects of Electronic Devices and Internet Addiction on Sleep and Academic Performance Among Female Egyptian and Saudi Nursing Students: A Comparative Study

“…A previous study implemented the short version of the smartphone addiction scale among 420 physical therapy students in Egypt, thus finding smartphone addiction among 62.4%, with a higher prevalence among females (Elserty et al, 2018). A later study among undergraduate students at Ain Shams University found that 32.5% had smartphone addiction, also with higher rates among females ( P = 0.003) (Elkholy et al, 2020).…”

Problematic smartphone use and affective temperaments among Lebanese young adults: scale validation and mediating role of self-esteem

“…The translated SAS-SV in this study was validated with a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of (α = 0.886). According to other studies that validated SAS-SV in their Arabic language populations, a study conducted by Sfendla et al, 2018 [ 44 ] on a sample of 310 university students in the Moroccan population showed an alpha coefficient of Cronbach of (α = 0.87), while another study by Elkholy et al, 2020 with 200 university students in Egyptian population obtained a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of (α = 0.94) [ 72 ]. However, this study’s reliability is higher than other studies such as those carried out by Andrade et al, 2020 in Brazilian version with (α = 0.819) [ 73 ] and Ching et al 2020 in Malaise version with (α = 0.80) [ 40 ].…”