The influence of alexithymia on mobile phone addiction: The role of depression, anxiety and stress

• Published in: Journal of affective disorders 2018-01, Vol.225, p.761-766
• Main Authors: Gao, Tingting, Li, Jiaomeng, Zhang, Han, Gao, Jinglei, Kong, Yixi, Hu, Yueyang, Mei, Songli
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Affective Symptoms - psychology; Alexithymia; Anxiety; Anxiety - psychology; Behavior, Addictive - psychology; Cell Phone; Depression; Depression - psychology; Female; Humans; Male; Mobile phone addiction; Stress; Students - psychology; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0165-0327; 1573-2517
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2017.08.020

Alexithymia is an important predictor of mobile phone addiction. Enhancing and improving college students’ mental health can reduce the rate of mobile phone addiction. However, it is not clear about the role of depression, anxiety and stress in the relationship between college students’ alexithymia and mobile phone addiction. A total of 1105 college students were tested with the Toronto Alexithymia Scale, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale and the Mobile Phone Addiction Index. An individual’s level of alexithymia was significantly correlated with depression, anxiety, stress and mobile phone addiction. Alexithymia had a significantly positive prediction effect on mobile phone addiction, and depression, anxiety, and stress on mobile phone are positive predictors. Depression, anxiety or stress had partially mediating effects between alexithymia and mobile phone addiction. Alexithymia not only directly had a positively impact on mobile phone addiction, but both also had an indirect effect on mobile phone addiction through depression, anxiety or stress. Limitations included sampling method and modest sample size, self-report measures, and unmeasured potential confounders. Alexithymia is an important correlate of mobile phone addiction, and depression, anxiety or stress is an important mediator in this relationship. •The relationship between alexithymia and mobile phone addiction for college students was examined.•Depression, anxiety and stress were examined as a mediating variable.•Alexithymia, depression, anxiety and stress were all significantly related to mobile phone addiction.•Depression, anxiety or stress mediated the relationship between alexithymia and mobile phone addiction.