The influence of alexithymia on problematic mobile phone use among Chinese adolescent students: Multiple mediating roles of social interaction anxiousness and core self-evaluations

Hui Zhou; Weilong Xiao; Xinwei Li; Huaibin Jiang

doi:10.1016/j.jad.2022.04.051

The influence of alexithymia on problematic mobile phone use among Chinese adolescent students: Multiple mediating roles of social interaction anxiousness and core self-evaluations

J Affect Disord. 2022 Jul 1:308:569-576. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.04.051. Epub 2022 Apr 13.

Authors

Hui Zhou¹, Weilong Xiao², Xinwei Li³, Huaibin Jiang⁴

Affiliations

¹ School of Teacher Education, Zhejiang Normal University, China; Jinhua Advanced Research Institute, China.
² School of Teacher Education, Zhejiang Normal University, China; School of Education, Fujian Polytechnic Normal University, China.
³ School of Teacher Education, Zhejiang Normal University, China. Electronic address: Lixinwei0417@126.com.
⁴ School of Education, Fujian Polytechnic Normal University, China. Electronic address: jianghuaibin@126.com.

PMID: 35429535
DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.04.051

Abstract

Background: Alexithymia can lead to problematic mobile phone use (PMPU). However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.

Methods: Drawing on the Interaction of Person-Affect-Cognition-Execution model, the present study tests the mediating effects (parallel and serial) of social interaction anxiety (SIA) and core self-evaluations (CSE) on the relationship between alexithymia and PMPU. We obtained 1267 valid responses from adolescent students (mean age, 20.36, standard deviation, 0.97) from southeast China who completed the Mobile Phone Addiction Index, Toronto Alexithymia-20 Scale, Social Interaction Anxiousness Scale, and Core Self-Evaluation Inventory.

Results: After controlling for demographic variables (i.e., gender) as covariates, the results revealed that: (1) alexithymia had a positive predictive effect on PMPU in adolescent students; (2) SIA and CSE mediated the association between alexithymia and PMPU; and (3) a series of indirect pathways (i.e., from alexithymia to PMPU via SIA and CSE) were detected. Thus, alexithymia can directly affect (parallel mediation) PMPU by increasing SIA and lowering CSE simultaneously. However, alexithymia can also indirectly affect (serial mediation) PMPU by increasing the level of SIA by decreasing CSE.

Limitations: Data were collected by participant self-report. This method may lead to recall bias. Further, we adopted a cross-sectional rather than an experimental design, thus precluding causal conclusions. Lastly, it would be useful to validate our findings with other age groups outside southeast China.

Conclusions: The current study findings are conducive to understanding the relationship between alexithymia and PMPU and inspire the prevention and intervention of PMPU.

Keywords: Adolescent students; Alexithymia; Core self-evaluations; Problematic mobile phone use; Social interaction anxiousness.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Affective Symptoms / epidemiology
Anxiety / epidemiology
Cell Phone Use*
Cell Phone*
China / epidemiology
Cross-Sectional Studies
Diagnostic Self Evaluation
Humans
Social Interaction
Students
Young Adult