Alexithymia, Negative Affectivity, and Social Media Use Among Young Adults in Italy

Ornella Montebarocci; Paola Surcinelli

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijps.20250504.11

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Alexithymia, Negative Affectivity, and Social Media Use Among Young Adults in Italy

Ornella Montebarocci^*

, Paola Surcinelli

Published in International Journal of Psychological Science (Volume 5, Issue 4)

Received: 24 October 2025 Accepted: 4 November 2025 Published: 9 December 2025

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Abstract

This study examines the relationship between negative affectivity-specifically depression, anxiety, and alexithymia-and patterns of social network site (SNS) use in a sample of young adults aged 20 to 29. While previous research has primarily focused on adolescents, the present study investigates how negative emotional traits influence SNS behaviors among university students. Regression analyses revealed that alexithymia, particularly difficulties in identifying and describing feelings (DIF, DDF), significantly predicted a preference for online communication, increased responsiveness to online content, and greater emotional distress when access to SNSs was restricted. In contrast, depressive symptoms and anxiety did not significantly predict SNS use. These findings suggest that difficulties in emotional awareness and regulation, rather than general negative affective states, may be more directly associated with patterns of digital engagement. The results further indicate a potential form of emotional dependency on SNSs, even among individuals with subclinical alexithymic traits. Limitations include gender imbalance, the non-clinical nature of the sample, the cross-sectional design preventing causal inference, and reliance on self-report measures. Future research should address these methodological constraints and develop interventions aimed at enhancing emotional competence in self-regulation in digital contexts to promote healthier online social interactions.

Published in	International Journal of Psychological Science (Volume 5, Issue 4)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijps.20250504.11
Page(s)	86-91
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Depression, Anxiety, Alexithymia, Social Media Use

References

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APA Style

Montebarocci, O., Surcinelli, P. (2025). Alexithymia, Negative Affectivity, and Social Media Use Among Young Adults in Italy. International Journal of Psychological Science, 5(4), 86-91. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijps.20250504.11

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ACS Style

Montebarocci, O.; Surcinelli, P. Alexithymia, Negative Affectivity, and Social Media Use Among Young Adults in Italy. Int. J. Psychol. Sci. 2025, 5(4), 86-91. doi: 10.11648/j.ijps.20250504.11

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AMA Style

Montebarocci O, Surcinelli P. Alexithymia, Negative Affectivity, and Social Media Use Among Young Adults in Italy. Int J Psychol Sci. 2025;5(4):86-91. doi: 10.11648/j.ijps.20250504.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ijps.20250504.11,
  author = {Ornella Montebarocci and Paola Surcinelli},
  title = {Alexithymia, Negative Affectivity, and Social Media Use Among Young Adults in Italy},
  journal = {International Journal of Psychological Science},
  volume = {5},
  number = {4},
  pages = {86-91},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijps.20250504.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijps.20250504.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijps.20250504.11},
  abstract = {This study examines the relationship between negative affectivity-specifically depression, anxiety, and alexithymia-and patterns of social network site (SNS) use in a sample of young adults aged 20 to 29. While previous research has primarily focused on adolescents, the present study investigates how negative emotional traits influence SNS behaviors among university students. Regression analyses revealed that alexithymia, particularly difficulties in identifying and describing feelings (DIF, DDF), significantly predicted a preference for online communication, increased responsiveness to online content, and greater emotional distress when access to SNSs was restricted. In contrast, depressive symptoms and anxiety did not significantly predict SNS use. These findings suggest that difficulties in emotional awareness and regulation, rather than general negative affective states, may be more directly associated with patterns of digital engagement. The results further indicate a potential form of emotional dependency on SNSs, even among individuals with subclinical alexithymic traits. Limitations include gender imbalance, the non-clinical nature of the sample, the cross-sectional design preventing causal inference, and reliance on self-report measures. Future research should address these methodological constraints and develop interventions aimed at enhancing emotional competence in self-regulation in digital contexts to promote healthier online social interactions.},
 year = {2025}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Alexithymia, Negative Affectivity, and Social Media Use Among Young Adults in Italy
AU  - Ornella Montebarocci
AU  - Paola Surcinelli
Y1  - 2025/12/09
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijps.20250504.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijps.20250504.11
T2  - International Journal of Psychological Science
JF  - International Journal of Psychological Science
JO  - International Journal of Psychological Science
SP  - 86
EP  - 91
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2994-7162
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AB  - This study examines the relationship between negative affectivity-specifically depression, anxiety, and alexithymia-and patterns of social network site (SNS) use in a sample of young adults aged 20 to 29. While previous research has primarily focused on adolescents, the present study investigates how negative emotional traits influence SNS behaviors among university students. Regression analyses revealed that alexithymia, particularly difficulties in identifying and describing feelings (DIF, DDF), significantly predicted a preference for online communication, increased responsiveness to online content, and greater emotional distress when access to SNSs was restricted. In contrast, depressive symptoms and anxiety did not significantly predict SNS use. These findings suggest that difficulties in emotional awareness and regulation, rather than general negative affective states, may be more directly associated with patterns of digital engagement. The results further indicate a potential form of emotional dependency on SNSs, even among individuals with subclinical alexithymic traits. Limitations include gender imbalance, the non-clinical nature of the sample, the cross-sectional design preventing causal inference, and reliance on self-report measures. Future research should address these methodological constraints and develop interventions aimed at enhancing emotional competence in self-regulation in digital contexts to promote healthier online social interactions.
VL  - 5
IS  - 4
ER  -

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Author Information

Ornella Montebarocci

Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5429-1307
Paola Surcinelli

Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7875-3545

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APA Style

Montebarocci, O., Surcinelli, P. (2025). Alexithymia, Negative Affectivity, and Social Media Use Among Young Adults in Italy. International Journal of Psychological Science, 5(4), 86-91. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijps.20250504.11

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ACS Style

Montebarocci, O.; Surcinelli, P. Alexithymia, Negative Affectivity, and Social Media Use Among Young Adults in Italy. Int. J. Psychol. Sci. 2025, 5(4), 86-91. doi: 10.11648/j.ijps.20250504.11

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AMA Style

Montebarocci O, Surcinelli P. Alexithymia, Negative Affectivity, and Social Media Use Among Young Adults in Italy. Int J Psychol Sci. 2025;5(4):86-91. doi: 10.11648/j.ijps.20250504.11

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ijps.20250504.11,
  author = {Ornella Montebarocci and Paola Surcinelli},
  title = {Alexithymia, Negative Affectivity, and Social Media Use Among Young Adults in Italy},
  journal = {International Journal of Psychological Science},
  volume = {5},
  number = {4},
  pages = {86-91},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijps.20250504.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijps.20250504.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijps.20250504.11},
  abstract = {This study examines the relationship between negative affectivity-specifically depression, anxiety, and alexithymia-and patterns of social network site (SNS) use in a sample of young adults aged 20 to 29. While previous research has primarily focused on adolescents, the present study investigates how negative emotional traits influence SNS behaviors among university students. Regression analyses revealed that alexithymia, particularly difficulties in identifying and describing feelings (DIF, DDF), significantly predicted a preference for online communication, increased responsiveness to online content, and greater emotional distress when access to SNSs was restricted. In contrast, depressive symptoms and anxiety did not significantly predict SNS use. These findings suggest that difficulties in emotional awareness and regulation, rather than general negative affective states, may be more directly associated with patterns of digital engagement. The results further indicate a potential form of emotional dependency on SNSs, even among individuals with subclinical alexithymic traits. Limitations include gender imbalance, the non-clinical nature of the sample, the cross-sectional design preventing causal inference, and reliance on self-report measures. Future research should address these methodological constraints and develop interventions aimed at enhancing emotional competence in self-regulation in digital contexts to promote healthier online social interactions.},
 year = {2025}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Alexithymia, Negative Affectivity, and Social Media Use Among Young Adults in Italy
AU  - Ornella Montebarocci
AU  - Paola Surcinelli
Y1  - 2025/12/09
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijps.20250504.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijps.20250504.11
T2  - International Journal of Psychological Science
JF  - International Journal of Psychological Science
JO  - International Journal of Psychological Science
SP  - 86
EP  - 91
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2994-7162
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijps.20250504.11
AB  - This study examines the relationship between negative affectivity-specifically depression, anxiety, and alexithymia-and patterns of social network site (SNS) use in a sample of young adults aged 20 to 29. While previous research has primarily focused on adolescents, the present study investigates how negative emotional traits influence SNS behaviors among university students. Regression analyses revealed that alexithymia, particularly difficulties in identifying and describing feelings (DIF, DDF), significantly predicted a preference for online communication, increased responsiveness to online content, and greater emotional distress when access to SNSs was restricted. In contrast, depressive symptoms and anxiety did not significantly predict SNS use. These findings suggest that difficulties in emotional awareness and regulation, rather than general negative affective states, may be more directly associated with patterns of digital engagement. The results further indicate a potential form of emotional dependency on SNSs, even among individuals with subclinical alexithymic traits. Limitations include gender imbalance, the non-clinical nature of the sample, the cross-sectional design preventing causal inference, and reliance on self-report measures. Future research should address these methodological constraints and develop interventions aimed at enhancing emotional competence in self-regulation in digital contexts to promote healthier online social interactions.
VL  - 5
IS  - 4
ER  -

Copy | Download