Alexithymia and Internet Addiction: Mediating Role of Social Connectedness, Impulsivity, and Moderation by Depression

Internet addiction is a mounting concern in current times. Recent studies indicate a link between alexithymia and Internet addiction, but the underlying mechanisms of this association require more investigation. The present study explores the relationship between alexithymia and Internet addiction,...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Utkarsh Utkarsh, Palak Kanwar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: PsychOpen GOLD/ Leibniz Institute for Psychology 2025-05-01
Series:Europe's Journal of Psychology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.15353
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850029576332247040
author Utkarsh Utkarsh
Palak Kanwar
author_facet Utkarsh Utkarsh
Palak Kanwar
author_sort Utkarsh Utkarsh
collection DOAJ
description Internet addiction is a mounting concern in current times. Recent studies indicate a link between alexithymia and Internet addiction, but the underlying mechanisms of this association require more investigation. The present study explores the relationship between alexithymia and Internet addiction, with the mediating effect of Impulsivity and social connectedness, and the moderating effect of depression. A convenience sample of 362 participants between the ages of 18 and 25 years participated in this study and completed the Young’s Internet Addiction Test, Toronto-Alexithymia Scale, The Social Connectedness Scale, Barratt Impulsiveness Scale 15, and The Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale Revised. The results indicate that the direct effect of alexithymia on Internet addiction is partially mediated through impulsivity and social connectedness. Further, the moderating effect of depression is found to be non-significant. The results revealed two possible pathways through which alexithymia influences Internet addiction. Future research and interventions on Internet addiction can use these findings to mitigate the adverse outcomes of Internet addiction.
format Article
id doaj-art-ff62bc62070145c3b69e5a7ebb8be684
institution DOAJ
issn 1841-0413
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher PsychOpen GOLD/ Leibniz Institute for Psychology
record_format Article
series Europe's Journal of Psychology
spelling doaj-art-ff62bc62070145c3b69e5a7ebb8be6842025-08-20T02:59:29ZengPsychOpen GOLD/ Leibniz Institute for PsychologyEurope's Journal of Psychology1841-04132025-05-0121212513710.5964/ejop.15353ejop.15353Alexithymia and Internet Addiction: Mediating Role of Social Connectedness, Impulsivity, and Moderation by DepressionUtkarsh Utkarsh0https://orcid.org/0009-0009-1298-1903Palak Kanwar1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9624-5851Department of Psychology, Christ University, Bangalore, Karnataka, IndiaDepartment of Psychology, Christ University, Bangalore, Karnataka, IndiaInternet addiction is a mounting concern in current times. Recent studies indicate a link between alexithymia and Internet addiction, but the underlying mechanisms of this association require more investigation. The present study explores the relationship between alexithymia and Internet addiction, with the mediating effect of Impulsivity and social connectedness, and the moderating effect of depression. A convenience sample of 362 participants between the ages of 18 and 25 years participated in this study and completed the Young’s Internet Addiction Test, Toronto-Alexithymia Scale, The Social Connectedness Scale, Barratt Impulsiveness Scale 15, and The Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale Revised. The results indicate that the direct effect of alexithymia on Internet addiction is partially mediated through impulsivity and social connectedness. Further, the moderating effect of depression is found to be non-significant. The results revealed two possible pathways through which alexithymia influences Internet addiction. Future research and interventions on Internet addiction can use these findings to mitigate the adverse outcomes of Internet addiction.https://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.15353internet addictionalexithymiaimpulsivitysocial connectednessdepression
spellingShingle Utkarsh Utkarsh
Palak Kanwar
Alexithymia and Internet Addiction: Mediating Role of Social Connectedness, Impulsivity, and Moderation by Depression
Europe's Journal of Psychology
internet addiction
alexithymia
impulsivity
social connectedness
depression
title Alexithymia and Internet Addiction: Mediating Role of Social Connectedness, Impulsivity, and Moderation by Depression
title_full Alexithymia and Internet Addiction: Mediating Role of Social Connectedness, Impulsivity, and Moderation by Depression
title_fullStr Alexithymia and Internet Addiction: Mediating Role of Social Connectedness, Impulsivity, and Moderation by Depression
title_full_unstemmed Alexithymia and Internet Addiction: Mediating Role of Social Connectedness, Impulsivity, and Moderation by Depression
title_short Alexithymia and Internet Addiction: Mediating Role of Social Connectedness, Impulsivity, and Moderation by Depression
title_sort alexithymia and internet addiction mediating role of social connectedness impulsivity and moderation by depression
topic internet addiction
alexithymia
impulsivity
social connectedness
depression
url https://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.15353
work_keys_str_mv AT utkarshutkarsh alexithymiaandinternetaddictionmediatingroleofsocialconnectednessimpulsivityandmoderationbydepression
AT palakkanwar alexithymiaandinternetaddictionmediatingroleofsocialconnectednessimpulsivityandmoderationbydepression