Predicting Problematic Internet Use Based on Loneliness and Alexithymia in Students

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Psychology, Ars.C., Islamic Azad University, Arsanjan, Iran

2 Department of Psychology, Shi.C., Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran

10.30476/jhmi.2025.108662.1316

Abstract

Introduction: Problematic internet use (PIU) is a complex and increasingly prevalent
phenomenon in contemporary societies, posing a significant challenge, particularly for
adolescents and young adults, and predominantly female upper secondary school students
in Shiraz, Iran. Consequently, the primary objective of the present study was to predict PIU
based on loneliness and alexithymia in female high school students.
Methods: In this descriptive-correlational study, the target population consisted of all
female high school students in Shiraz during the 2023–2024 academic year. For this study, a
sample of 259 students was recruited using convenience sampling. Data were collected using
the Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire, the UCLA Loneliness Scale, and the Toronto
Alexithymia Scale-20. Statistical analysis was performed using the Pearson correlation
coefficient and simultaneous multiple regression.
Results: The results indicated significant positive relationships between loneliness and
PIU (r=0.47, P<0.001) and between alexithymia and PIU (r=0.58, P<0.001). Simultaneous
multiple regression showed that loneliness and alexithymia together explained 39.8% of the
variance in PIU (R²=0.398, adjusted R²=0.394, F=84.83, P<0.001), with alexithymia (β=0.48,
P<0.001) as the stronger predictor than loneliness (β=0.28, P<0.001).
Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that both loneliness and alexithymia are significant
positive predictors of problematic internet use in female upper secondary students in Shiraz,
Iran. Consequently, these results strongly suggest that interventions targeting the reduction of
loneliness and the enhancement of emotional identification and expression skills are crucial
for effectively addressing PIU within this population.

Highlights

Solmaz Abedi Kadanji: Google Scholar

Farzaneh Hooman: Google Scholar

Keywords

Main Subjects

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Health Management & Information Science
Volume 13, Issue 1
January 2026
Pages 60-65

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