Relationship between internet addiction and alexithymia among university students

Abstract

Purpose: Epidemiological studies concerning internet addiction found that 50% of internet addicts also have other kinds of psychiatric disorders. This study aims to examine the relationship between alexithymia and internet addiction levels among Turgut Özal University students in Ankara, Turkey. Method: University students (1,107 students; 452 students from 12 associate degree programs and 655 students from 10 undergraduate programs) participated in the study. The researchers used the personal information form, the Toronto Alexithymia Scale and the Internet Addiction Scale. The approval for the current study was received from the Turgut Özal University Medical Faculty Clinical Studies Ethics Committee. Results: The number of the alexithymic students was 12.5% whereas the number of the students who were internet addicts was 13.5%. The internet addiction scores were higher among alexithymic individuals than the non-alexithymic (p

Video Game Addiction and Emotional States: Possible Confusion Between Pleasure and Happiness?

“…In problematic internet/gaming several studies have explored and highlighted to role of alexithymia and its links with other therapeutic issues. For instance, it has been shown that alexithymic individuals are more associated with Internet addiction than non-alexthymic ones (Baysan-Arslan et al, 2016). In this research, the authors consider that the difficulty in identifying and differentiating emotions that characterizes alexithymia may lead individuals with this affliction to regulate their emotional states via their addictive activities.…”

“…Considering the possible association between alexithymia and problematic gaming as a manner to regulate emotions (Baysan-Arslan et al, 2016;Bonnaire and Baptista, 2019), the Emotion Regulation Therapy (ERT) might strengthen the therapeutic process. The aim being that the observed difficulties in Internet (including VG) addicts to identifying emotions and regulating affects in Craparo, 2011) could be, at least partially, overcome through the ERT process.…”

Relationship of premenstrual and menstrual symptoms to alexithymia among nursing students

“…Similarly, Katsifaraki and Tucker in their study in the UK; 8.7% of the nursing students were alexithymic. The prevalence of alexithymia in studies conducted with Turkish university students was between 3% and 12% . In studies conducted with university students in different countries, various alexithymia rates have been reported.…”

“…The prevalence of alexithymia in studies conducted with Turkish university students was between 3% and 12%. [24][25][26] In studies conducted with university students in different countries, various alexithymia rates have been reported. For example, in a study of alexithymia, prevalence in the USA was 5.6%, 27 10 % in Canada, 28 10% in Italy, 30 17.92%…”

“…Studies about alexithymia and its prevalence among university students are relatively limited. 23 The prevalence of alexithymia in studies conducted with Turkish university students was between 3% and 12%, [24][25][26] and it was reported in different countries between 5.6% and 28.7%. 23,[27][28][29][30] University students face with various stressful events such as leaving from home, academic strains, economic problems, and having new friends, so they are vulnerable to some forms of psychological distress, which may affect their emotional status, leading to difficulty in identifying their emotions.…”