Alexithymia, impulsivity and negative mood in relation to internet addiction symptoms in female university students

Objective Alexithymia has been implicated as a risk factor for problematic substance use and other excessive behaviours including internet addiction . Impulsiveness also identified likely predisposing behaviours. However, impulsivity is often elevated in alexithymia, the degree of independence these factors relation to unclear.Method The present study assessed contributions negative affect variance symptoms 116 internet-using female university students. Participants completed following instruments online: demographics, Toronto Scale-20, Barratt Scale-11, Internet Addiction Test Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21.Results Measures were significantly intercorrelated expected directions. Hierarchical regression indicated that although both alexithymia highly significant predictors after controlling demographic covariates, contribution became nonsignificant adding model. final model explained 37% symptoms. Multiple mediation modelling fully mediated association with symptoms.Conclusions Impulsivity may account link between young women at university.KEY POINTSWhat already known about this topic: have linked variety addictive behaviors addiction.Alexithymia reported independently predict alcohol models.Alexithymia reflect deficient interoception corresponding poor internal awareness overconsumption cues use.What topic adds: In students, impulsivity, positive model.Alexithymia was no longer model.Multiple