Academic Journal
The Mediating Role of Social Support on the Relationship Between Alexithymia and Internet Addiction Among Jordanian University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study.
| Title: | The Mediating Role of Social Support on the Relationship Between Alexithymia and Internet Addiction Among Jordanian University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study. |
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| Authors: | Hamaideh SH; Community and Mental Health Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, The Hashemite University, Zarqa 13133, Jordan., Khait AA; Community and Mental Health Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, The Hashemite University, Zarqa 13133, Jordan., Abuhammad S; Department of Nursing, Collage of Heath Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 27272, United Arab Emirates.; Department of Maternal and Child Health, Faculty of Nursing, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan., Al-Modallal H; Community and Mental Health Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, The Hashemite University, Zarqa 13133, Jordan., Hamdan-Mansour A; Community Health Department, School of Nursing, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan., Masa'deh R; Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Applied Science Private University, Amman 11973, Jordan., ALBashtawy M; Princess Salma Faculty of Nursing, Al Al-Bayt University, Mafraq 25113, Jordan. |
| Source: | International journal of environmental research and public health [Int J Environ Res Public Health] 2026 Jun 02; Vol. 23 (6). Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Jun 02. |
| Publication Type: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Journal Info: | Publisher: MDPI Country of Publication: Switzerland NLM ID: 101238455 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1660-4601 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 16604601 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Int J Environ Res Public Health Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Original Publication: Basel : MDPI, c2004- |
| MeSH Terms: | Students*/psychology , Students*/statistics & numerical data , Affective Symptoms*/epidemiology , Affective Symptoms*/psychology , Internet Addiction Disorder*/epidemiology , Internet Addiction Disorder*/psychology , Social Support* , Behavior, Addictive*, Jordan/epidemiology ; Humans ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Universities ; Young Adult ; Male ; Adult ; Adolescent ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Internet |
| Abstract: | Background: Alexithymia and Internet addiction are emerging concerns among university students, and perceived social support may help explain how difficulties in identifying and expressing emotions relate to problematic Internet use. This study examined the mediating role of perceived social support in the relationship between alexithymia and Internet addiction among Jordanian university students. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 300 university students in Jordan during the 2022/2023 academic year using Google Forms distributed through Facebook and Microsoft Teams. Participants completed the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), Internet Addiction Test (IAT), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and demographic questions. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, multiple regression, and Hayes PROCESS macro Model 4 with 5000 bootstrap samples. Results: The overall mean scores for alexithymia, Internet addiction, and social support were 62.57, 46.05, and 55.13, respectively. Alexithymia was positively correlated with Internet addiction and negatively correlated with social support. Social support partially mediated the relationship between alexithymia and Internet addiction, indicating that higher alexithymia was associated with lower perceived social support, which in turn was associated with higher Internet addiction. Conclusions: The findings support the need for university-based screening and prevention programs that address emotional awareness, healthy Internet use, and social support. Theoretically, the results suggest that social support is a meaningful psychosocial pathway linking alexithymia with problematic Internet use among university students. |
| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: Jordan; alexithymia; internet addiction; social support; university students |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20260626 Date Completed: 20260626 Latest Revision: 20260726 |
| Update Code: | 20260726 |
| PubMed Central ID: | PMC13300143 |
| DOI: | 10.3390/ijerph23060748 |
| PMID: | 42354279 |
| Database: | MEDLINE |
| ISSN: | 1660-4601 |
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| DOI: | 10.3390/ijerph23060748 |