Neuroticism and problematic smartphone use symptom types: Roles of anxiety and alexithymia

• Published in: Current psychology (New Brunswick, N.J.) Vol. 42; no. 13; pp. 11320 - 11328
• Main Authors: Wei, Xin-Yi, Jiang, Yong-Zhi, Zhou, Hui-Ling, Jiang, Huai-Bin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.05.2023; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Alexithymia; Anxiety; Behavioral Science and Psychology; Psychology; Smartphones; Social Sciences; Teenagers; Neuroticism; Anxiety; Problematic smartphone use; Symptoms types; Alexithymia
• ISSN: 1046-1310; 1936-4733
• DOI: 10.1007/s12144-022-03265-x

Although some studies have examined the association between neuroticism and problematic smartphone use (PSU) among adolescents, few have explored the association between neuroticism and different PSU symptom types. This research aimed to explore the association between neuroticism and four classic PSU symptom types among adolescents, and considered anxiety as a mediator and alexithymia as a moderator in this association. Our theoretical model was tested among 428 adolescents. Correlation analysis found that all PSU symptom types were significantly positively associated with neuroticism, anxiety, and alexithymia. The structural equation model found that neuroticism was positively associated with all PSU symptom types; anxiety mediated the relationship between neuroticism and PSU’s escape symptoms; alexithymia weakened the effect of anxiety on escape symptoms and further weakened the mediated effect of anxiety. The current research expands on the existing literature related to PSU and reveals the important role of escape motivation and the potential avoidant defense mechanism of alexithymia. The practical implication for the prevention and intervention of adolescents’ PSU is discussed.