Alexithymia and mobile phone addiction among college students: Mediation by boredom proneness and anxiety

Abstract

The current study explored the mediating role of boredom and anxiety on the relationship between alexithymia and mobile phone addiction among Chinese college students. Participants (n = 354; female = 49.7%, mean age = 19.30 years, SD = 1.28 years) completed the Toronto Alexithymia Scale, the Boredom Proneness Scale-Short Form, the Symptom Check List 90, and the Mobile Phone Addiction Index. Regression analysis showed that higher alexithymia was a risk for mobile phone addiction (MPA). Boredom proneness and anxiety mediated the relationship between alexithymia and mobile phone addiction. There were no significant sex differences in the mediating pathways between alexithymia, boredom proneness, anxiety and MPA. The current findings are consistent with the compensatory internet use theory. College student support services should formulate student social engagement interventions to improve healthy mobile phone use and reducing the risk for MPA.