AUTHOR=Luo Hongge , Zhao Yanli , Hong Jiangyue , Wang Hong , Zhang Xiujun , Tan Shuping 

TITLE=Effect of Alexithymia on Internet Addiction Among College Students: The Mediating Role of Metacognition Beliefs

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.788458

DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2021.788458

ISSN=1664-1078

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Background:</bold> Previous studies have found that alexithymia plays an important role in the pathogenesis of Internet addiction. However, the effect of alexithymia on both metacognition and Internet addiction has yet to be examined.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> The Toronto Alexithymia Scale, Metacognition Questionnaire, and Internet Addiction Test were used to assess a sample of 356 college students. A parallel mediator effect analysis was applied to test the hypothesis that metacognition mediates the relationship between alexithymia and Internet addiction.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> The parallel multiple mediator models showed that alexithymia predicted the five dimensions of metacognition and Internet addiction, and that three dimensions—cognitive confidence, positive beliefs about worry, and the need to control thoughts—partially mediated this relationship.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> Alexithymia could directly and indirectly predict Internet addiction <italic>via</italic> metacognition.</p>