Press Play to Feel: The Role of Attachment Styles and Alexithymic Features in Problematic Gaming

Andrea Scalone, Gianluca Santoro (), Josephin Cavallo, Alessandra Melita, Alessio Gori and Adriano Schimmenti
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Andrea Scalone: Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, UKE—Kore University of Enna, Piazza dell’Università, 94100 Enna, Italy
Gianluca Santoro: Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, UKE—Kore University of Enna, Piazza dell’Università, 94100 Enna, Italy
Josephin Cavallo: Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, UKE—Kore University of Enna, Piazza dell’Università, 94100 Enna, Italy
Alessandra Melita: Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, UKE—Kore University of Enna, Piazza dell’Università, 94100 Enna, Italy
Alessio Gori: Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Via di San Salvi 12, Pad. 26, 50135 Florence, Italy
Adriano Schimmenti: Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, UKE—Kore University of Enna, Piazza dell’Università, 94100 Enna, Italy

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 20, 1-13

Abstract: Problematic gaming has been consistently associated with insecure attachment styles and alexithymia. However, there is limited knowledge regarding the impact of specific alexithymic features and insecure attachment styles on problematic gaming. The study included a sample of 358 online game players (242 males, 67.6%) between the ages of 18 and 59 (M = 28.46; SD = 8.76) who were recruited from online gaming communities. The participants completed a sociodemographic schedule and measures on attachment styles, alexithymia, and problematic gaming. The results provide evidence for a positive prediction of problematic gaming by dismissing attachment style and the alexithymic factors concerning the difficulty identifying feelings and externally oriented thinking, even when controlling for potentially confounding factors, such as age, sex, education, marital status, and self-reported time devoted to online games. Additionally, the analysis revealed a significant interaction effect between externally oriented thinking and dismissing attachment style in the prediction of problematic gaming. The interaction implies that the alexithymia factors pertaining to externally oriented thinking hold significant relevance in predicting problematic gaming behaviors, especially in cases where dismissive attachment levels are moderately to highly present. These findings emphasize the significance of considering specific insecure attachment styles and alexithymic features when studying problematic gaming behaviors.

Keywords: problematic gaming; attachment styles; alexithymia; moderation model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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