Alexithymia and Its Relationships with Dissociative Experiences and Internet Addiction in a Nonclinical Sample
CyberPsychology & BehaviorPublished 8 January 2009
Domenico De Berardis, Alessandro D'Albenzio, Francesco Gambi, Gianna Sepede, Alessandro Valchera, Chiara Conti
Citations143
Generate an AI Snapshot to get a quick, structured summary of this paper.
Study Snapshot
ObjectiveStudy objective
MethodsResearch methodology
PopulationPopulation studied
Sample sizeSample sizes
OutcomesStudy outcomes here
ResultsStudy results comes here
LimitationsResearch study limitations comes here
A concise AI-generated summary of the paper will appear here once you click Generate AI Snapshot.
TL;DR
A combination of alexithymia, dissociative experiences, low self-esteem, and impulse dysregulation may be a risk factor for IA, at least in a nonclinical sample of 312 undergraduate students.
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to evaluate alexithymia, dissociative experiences, and Internet addiction (IA) in a nonclinical sample of 312 undergraduate students, identifying predictive factors associated with the possible risk of developing IA. We found that alexithymics had more consistent dissociative experiences, lower self-esteem, and higher obsessive-compulsive symptoms than nonalexithymics. In addition, alexithymics reported a higher potential risk for IA when compared to nonalexithymics. Difficulty in identifying feelings, higher dissociative experiences, lower self-esteem, and higher impulse dysregulation were associated with higher IA. Thus, a combination of alexithymia, dissociative experiences, low self-esteem, and impulse dysregulation may be a risk factor for IA, at least in a nonclinical sample.
Keywords
PsychologySocial SciencesMedicine
CyberPsychology & BehaviorInternet Addiction: The Emergence of a New Clinical Disorder
5,348 Citations1998Kimberly Young
This study investigated the existence of Internet addiction and the extent of problems caused by such potential misuse by developing a brief eight-item questionnaire referred to as a Diagnostic Questionnaire (DQ), which can be defined as an impulse-control disorder that does not involve an intoxicant.
CyberPsychology & BehaviorModification in the Proposed Diagnostic Criteria for Internet Addiction
986 Citations2001Keith W. Beard, E. Wolf
Signs of excessive Internet use are compared to the criteria used to diagnose other addictions and pathological gambling is compared to problematic Internet use because of overlapping criteria.
CyberPsychology & BehaviorDoes Internet and Computer "Addiction" Exist? Some Case Study Evidence
903 Citations2000Mark D. Griffiths
It is argued that of the five cases, only two of them describe "addicted" subjects, and the excessive usage in the majority of cases was purely symptomatic and was highlighted how the subjects used the Internet/computer to counteract other deficiencies.
Journal of Affective DisordersPsychiatric features of individuals with problematic internet use
896 Citations2000Nathan A. Shapira, Toby D. Goldsmith +3 more
Problematic internet use may be associated with subjective distress, functional impairment and Axis I psychiatric disorders.
PsychosomaticsThe Alexithymia Construct: A Potential Paradigm for Psychosomatic Medicine
718 Citations1991Graeme J. Taylor, R. Michael Bagby +1 more
This paper reviews the development and validation of the alexithymia construct and discusses its clinical implications for psychosomatic medicine.
Journal of Psychosomatic ResearchCross validation of the factor structure of the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale: An Italian multicenter study
652 Citations1996C. Bressi, Graeme J. Taylor +13 more
The present results support the use of the Italian translation of the TAS-20, a general dimension of alexithymia with three intercorrelated factors, for clinical and research purposes.
International Journal of Human-Computer StudiesPotential determinants of heavier internet usage
582 Citations2000Lynette Armstrong, James G. Phillips +1 more
While poorer self-esteem predicted greater scores on the Internet Related Problem Scale, impulsivity did not, and researchers need to re-assess previous conceptualizations of the typical “computer addict” as a highly educated, male introvert with a constant need for intellectual stimulation.
Psychiatry and Clinical NeurosciencesAttention deficit hyperactivity symptoms and Internet addiction
491 Citations2004Hee Jeong Yoo, Soo Churl Cho +7 more
Findings suggest that the presence of ADHD symptoms, both in inattention and hyperactivity‐impulsivity domains, may be one of the important risk factors for Internet addiction.
CyberPsychology & BehaviorInternet Gambling: Issues, Concerns, and Recommendations
409 Citations2003Mark D. Griffiths
The influence of technology in the field of gambling innovation continues to grow at a rapid pace by highlighting salient factors in the rise of Internet gambling, including accessibility, affordability, anonymity, convenience, escape immersion/dissociation, disinhibition, event frequency, asociability, interactivity, and simulation.
Behaviour Research and TherapyThe structure of obsessive-compulsive symptoms
331 Citations1995Patricia van Oppen, Rense Hoekstra +1 more
The Padua Inventory-Revised (41-items) appears to measure the structure of obsessive-compulsive symptoms: the main types of behaviours and obsessions as seen clinically are assessed by this questionnaire, apart from obsessional slowness.
Comprehensive PsychiatryThe relationship between dissociative symptoms, alexithymia, impulsivity, sexual abuse, and self-mutilation
309 Citations1996Caron Zlotnick, M. Tracie Shea +4 more
The study found that self-mutilators displayed a greater degree of dissociative symptoms and alexithymia and a greater number of self-injurious behaviors, as well as higher rates of childhood sexual abuse, than nonmutilator in a sample of female inpatients.
American Journal of PsychiatryA preliminary investigation of alexithymia in men with psychoactive substance dependence
173 Citations1990Graeme J. Taylor, Jennifer D. Parker +1 more
The prevalence of alexithymia in a group of newly abstinent male substance abusers was 50% and patients had significantly less ego strength and repressive defensive behavior and significantly higher levels of somatic complaints and general dysphoria.
Eating BehaviorsAlexithymia and its relationships with body checking and body image in a non-clinical female sample
97 Citations2006Domenico De Berardis, Alessandro Carano +14 more
A combination of alexithymia, low self-esteem, body checking behaviors and body dissatisfaction may be a risk factor for symptoms of ED at least in a non-clinical sample of university women.
Psychiatrische PraxisInternetabhängigkeit als ein Symptom depressiver Störungen
48 Citations2007Bert te Wildt, Inken Putzig +2 more
Every psychiatrist should be able to detect and treat internet dependency adequately, as long as there is a willingness to deal with the contents and impacts of cyberspace.
CyberPsychology & BehaviorGender, Internet Use, and Sexual Behavior Orientation among Young Nigerians
36 Citations2006D. O. Adebayo, I. Bola Udegbe +1 more
Results of the hierarchical regression model provided support for the influence of gender and Internet use on sexual behavior orientation among young Nigerians and revealed an interaction effect; as the use of the Internet increased, male participants reported a greater extent of riskySexual behavior orientation than their female counterparts.
Belarusian State Pedagogical University repository (Belarusian State Pedagogical University)The relationship between alexithymia and dissociation in an adolescent sample
21 Citations2003Kemal Sayar, Samet Köse