The relationship between technology addictions and schizotypal traits: mediating roles of depression, anxiety, and stress

Bibliographic Details
Title: The relationship between technology addictions and schizotypal traits: mediating roles of depression, anxiety, and stress
Authors: Feten Fekih-Romdhane, Haitham Jahrami, Rami Away, Khaled Trabelsi, Seithikurippu R. Pandi-Perumal, Mary V. Seeman, Souheil Hallit, Majda Cheour
Source: BMC Psychiatry, Vol 23, Iss 1, Pp 1-9 (2023)
Publisher Information: BMC, 2023.
Publication Year: 2023
Collection: LCC:Psychiatry
Subject Terms: Schizotypy, Psychosis, Smartphone addiction, Internet addiction, Facebook addiction, Psychological distress, Psychiatry, RC435-571
More Details: Abstract Background The way how technology addiction relates to psychosis remains inconclusive and uncertain. The present study aimed to test the hypothesis of a mediating role of depression, anxiety and stress in the association between three technology (behavioral) addictions (i.e., Addiction to the Internet, smartphones and Facebook) and psychosis proneness as estimated through schizotypal traits in emerging adults. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed among non-clinical Tunisian university students (67.6% females, mean age of 21.5 ± 2.5 years) using a paper-and-pencil self-administered questionnaire. Results Results for the Pearson correlation revealed that higher smartphone, Internet, and Facebook addictions’ scores were significantly and positively correlated with each of the depression, anxiety and stress subscores; whereas depression (r = 0.474), anxiety (r = 0.499) and stress (r = 0.461) scores were positively correlated with higher schizotypal traits. The results of the mediation analysis found a significant mediating effect for depressive, anxiety and stress symptoms on the cross-sectional relationship between each facet of the TA and schizotypal traits. Conclusion Our findings preliminarily suggest that an addictive use of smartphones, Internet and Facebook may act as a stressor that exacerbates psychosis proneness directly or indirectly through distress. Although future longitudinal research is needed to determine causality, we draw attention to the possibility that treating psychological distress may constitute an effective target of interventions to prevent psychosis in adolescents with technology addictions.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 1471-244X
Relation: https://doaj.org/toc/1471-244X
DOI: 10.1186/s12888-023-04563-9
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/b0c4c0de071647e8b79dd2e599fdcc48
Accession Number: edsdoj.b0c4c0de071647e8b79dd2e599fdcc48
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
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More Details
ISSN:1471244X
DOI:10.1186/s12888-023-04563-9
Published in:BMC Psychiatry
Language:English