The mediating role of emotion regulation in the relationship between alexithymia and internet gaming disorder in high school students

In this study, it has been investigated whether emotion dysregulation has a mediating role in the relationship between alexithymia and internet gaming disorder. The study was carried out with 402 high school students in the 2019-2020 academic year. Data were collected using Personel Information Form, Toronto Alexithymia Scale, Short Form of the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale. In addition, the relationship internet gaming disorder with various demographic variables was also investigated. As a result of the analyses, it was found that alexithymia predicted internet gaming disorder both directly and indirectly through emotion dysregulation in adolescents. All three scales used have a positive and significant relationship between them. The findings are discussed based on the data in the literature.