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Press Play to Feel: The Role of Attachment Styles and Alexithymic Features in Problematic Gaming

Author

Listed:
  • Andrea Scalone

    (Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, UKE—Kore University of Enna, Piazza dell’Università, 94100 Enna, Italy)

  • Gianluca Santoro

    (Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, UKE—Kore University of Enna, Piazza dell’Università, 94100 Enna, Italy)

  • Josephin Cavallo

    (Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, UKE—Kore University of Enna, Piazza dell’Università, 94100 Enna, Italy)

  • Alessandra Melita

    (Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, UKE—Kore University of Enna, Piazza dell’Università, 94100 Enna, Italy)

  • Alessio Gori

    (Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Via di San Salvi 12, Pad. 26, 50135 Florence, Italy
    Integrative Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Institute (IPPI), Via Ricasoli 32, 50122 Florence, Italy)

  • Adriano Schimmenti

    (Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, UKE—Kore University of Enna, Piazza dell’Università, 94100 Enna, Italy)

Abstract

Problematic gaming has been consistently associated with insecure attachment styles and alexithymia. However, there is limited knowledge regarding the impact of specific alexithymic features and insecure attachment styles on problematic gaming. The study included a sample of 358 online game players (242 males, 67.6%) between the ages of 18 and 59 (M = 28.46; SD = 8.76) who were recruited from online gaming communities. The participants completed a sociodemographic schedule and measures on attachment styles, alexithymia, and problematic gaming. The results provide evidence for a positive prediction of problematic gaming by dismissing attachment style and the alexithymic factors concerning the difficulty identifying feelings and externally oriented thinking, even when controlling for potentially confounding factors, such as age, sex, education, marital status, and self-reported time devoted to online games. Additionally, the analysis revealed a significant interaction effect between externally oriented thinking and dismissing attachment style in the prediction of problematic gaming. The interaction implies that the alexithymia factors pertaining to externally oriented thinking hold significant relevance in predicting problematic gaming behaviors, especially in cases where dismissive attachment levels are moderately to highly present. These findings emphasize the significance of considering specific insecure attachment styles and alexithymic features when studying problematic gaming behaviors.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrea Scalone & Gianluca Santoro & Josephin Cavallo & Alessandra Melita & Alessio Gori & Adriano Schimmenti, 2023. "Press Play to Feel: The Role of Attachment Styles and Alexithymic Features in Problematic Gaming," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(20), pages 1-13, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:20:p:6910-:d:1257477
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Andrzej Cudo & Marcin Wojtasiński & Przemysław Tużnik & Agnieszka Fudali-Czyż & Mark D. Griffiths, 2022. "The Relationship between Depressive Symptoms, Loneliness, Self-Control, and Gaming Disorder among Polish Male and Female Gamers: The Indirect Effects of Gaming Motives," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-18, August.
    2. Li, Li & Niu, Zhimin & Griffiths, Mark D. & Wang, Wen & Chang, Chunying & Mei, Songli, 2021. "A network perspective on the relationship between gaming disorder, depression, alexithymia, boredom, and loneliness among a sample of Chinese university students," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    3. Akram Hernández-Vásquez & Rodrigo Vargas-Fernández & Fabriccio J. Visconti-Lopez & Daniel Comandé & Guido Bendezu-Quispe, 2022. "Prevalence and Factors Associated with Gaming Disorder in Latin America and the Caribbean: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-14, August.
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