The impact of loneliness on alexithymia among Chinese adolescents: the mediating role of problematic smartphone use and the moderating effect of fear of negative evaluation
Abstract This research investigates how loneliness influences alexithymia among Chinese adolescents, drawing on Internet Compensation Theory and the Social Compensation Hypothesis. The study highlights the mediating role of problematic smartphone use (PSU) and the moderating effect of fear of negati...
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| Language: | English |
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BMC
2025-08-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23721-0 |
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| author | Xiaowen Wu Zihui Guo |
| author_facet | Xiaowen Wu Zihui Guo |
| author_sort | Xiaowen Wu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract This research investigates how loneliness influences alexithymia among Chinese adolescents, drawing on Internet Compensation Theory and the Social Compensation Hypothesis. The study highlights the mediating role of problematic smartphone use (PSU) and the moderating effect of fear of negative evaluation (FNE). Using a cross-sectional design, data were collected from 688 secondary school students via the online Questionnaire Star platform. The results indicate that loneliness is positively associated with both PSU and alexithymia. PSU partially mediates the relationship between loneliness and alexithymia (based on statistical models). Additionally, FNE plays a moderating role in the relationship between loneliness and PSU or alexithymia. Subgroup analysis revealed that male students reported significantly higher levels of alexithymia than females. Among individuals with higher levels of FNE, the positive correlation between loneliness and alexithymia was significantly stronger. This study proposes a mechanism involving internal emotion (loneliness), external behavior (PSU), and cognitive evaluation (FNE), offering a systematic theoretical basis for adolescent mental health interventions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-fdd5e31f64ea49d481f902cc03032e6f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-fdd5e31f64ea49d481f902cc03032e6f2025-08-20T04:03:13ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-08-0125111710.1186/s12889-025-23721-0The impact of loneliness on alexithymia among Chinese adolescents: the mediating role of problematic smartphone use and the moderating effect of fear of negative evaluationXiaowen Wu0Zihui Guo1School of Journalism and Communication, Communication University of China, NanjingSchool of Journalism and Communication, Communication University of China, NanjingAbstract This research investigates how loneliness influences alexithymia among Chinese adolescents, drawing on Internet Compensation Theory and the Social Compensation Hypothesis. The study highlights the mediating role of problematic smartphone use (PSU) and the moderating effect of fear of negative evaluation (FNE). Using a cross-sectional design, data were collected from 688 secondary school students via the online Questionnaire Star platform. The results indicate that loneliness is positively associated with both PSU and alexithymia. PSU partially mediates the relationship between loneliness and alexithymia (based on statistical models). Additionally, FNE plays a moderating role in the relationship between loneliness and PSU or alexithymia. Subgroup analysis revealed that male students reported significantly higher levels of alexithymia than females. Among individuals with higher levels of FNE, the positive correlation between loneliness and alexithymia was significantly stronger. This study proposes a mechanism involving internal emotion (loneliness), external behavior (PSU), and cognitive evaluation (FNE), offering a systematic theoretical basis for adolescent mental health interventions.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23721-0LonelinessAlexithymiaProblematic smartphone useFear of negative evaluationAdolescents |
| spellingShingle | Xiaowen Wu Zihui Guo The impact of loneliness on alexithymia among Chinese adolescents: the mediating role of problematic smartphone use and the moderating effect of fear of negative evaluation BMC Public Health Loneliness Alexithymia Problematic smartphone use Fear of negative evaluation Adolescents |
| title | The impact of loneliness on alexithymia among Chinese adolescents: the mediating role of problematic smartphone use and the moderating effect of fear of negative evaluation |
| title_full | The impact of loneliness on alexithymia among Chinese adolescents: the mediating role of problematic smartphone use and the moderating effect of fear of negative evaluation |
| title_fullStr | The impact of loneliness on alexithymia among Chinese adolescents: the mediating role of problematic smartphone use and the moderating effect of fear of negative evaluation |
| title_full_unstemmed | The impact of loneliness on alexithymia among Chinese adolescents: the mediating role of problematic smartphone use and the moderating effect of fear of negative evaluation |
| title_short | The impact of loneliness on alexithymia among Chinese adolescents: the mediating role of problematic smartphone use and the moderating effect of fear of negative evaluation |
| title_sort | impact of loneliness on alexithymia among chinese adolescents the mediating role of problematic smartphone use and the moderating effect of fear of negative evaluation |
| topic | Loneliness Alexithymia Problematic smartphone use Fear of negative evaluation Adolescents |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23721-0 |
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