The Relationships between Compulsive Internet Use, Alexithymia, and Dissociation: Gender Differences among Italian Adolescents

Alessandro Germani, Antonella Lopez, Elvira Martini, Sara Cicchella, Angelo Maria De Fortuna, Mirella Dragone, Barbara Pizzini, Gina Troisi and Raffaele De Luca Picione ()
Additional contact information
Alessandro Germani: Faculty of Law, Giustino Fortunato University, 82100 Benevento, Italy
Antonella Lopez: Faculty of Law, Giustino Fortunato University, 82100 Benevento, Italy
Elvira Martini: Faculty of Law, Giustino Fortunato University, 82100 Benevento, Italy
Sara Cicchella: Faculty of Law, Giustino Fortunato University, 82100 Benevento, Italy
Angelo Maria De Fortuna: Department of Communication Sciences, Humanities and International Studies (DISCUI), University of Urbino, 61029 Urbino, Italy
Mirella Dragone: Faculty of Law, Giustino Fortunato University, 82100 Benevento, Italy
Barbara Pizzini: Faculty of Law, Giustino Fortunato University, 82100 Benevento, Italy
Gina Troisi: Faculty of Law, Giustino Fortunato University, 82100 Benevento, Italy
Raffaele De Luca Picione: Faculty of Law, Giustino Fortunato University, 82100 Benevento, Italy

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 14, 1-18

Abstract: Internet Gaming Disorder, Internet Addiction, Problematic Internet Use and Compulsive Internet Use cause distress and significant impairment in important areas of a person’s functioning, in particular among young people. The literature has indicated that males show higher levels of problematic internet use than females. People can use the internet to avoid or alleviate negative affects; in fact, problematic internet use is associated with alexithymia and dissociation. Few studies have focused on the different stages of adolescence, gender differences, and the relationships between the aforementioned variables. This research aims to fill this gap. Five hundred and ninety-four adolescents aged between 13 and 19 filled in the Compulsive Internet Use Scale, the Toronto Alexithymia Scale, the Adolescents Dissociative Experiences Scale, and other ad hoc measures. Surprisingly, females reported higher compulsive internet use compared with males. Moreover, they referred more difficulties/symptoms and greater levels of alexithymia than males. No differences across the stages of adolescence were found. Different strengths in the relationships between variables were found according to gender. Moderated mediation analyses indicated that dissociation is an important mediator in the relation between alexithymia and Compulsive Internet Use only among females. This study shed new light on gender differences around problematic internet use and some related risk factors, in order to identify and develop prevention and treatment programs to face this topical and relevant issue.

Keywords: adolescence; internet; alexithymia; dissociation; age; gender; mediation; moderation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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