Alexithymia, Reward Sensitivity and Internet Addiction Symptoms: Potential Roles of Frontal Lobe Dysfunction and Negative Mood

Previous work implicated alexithymia and reward sensitivity as risk factors for excessive internet use (internet addiction [IA]). Both personality traits have been linked to deficits of frontal lobe executive self-regulation. The present study proposed that frontal dysfunction underlies the links of alexithymia and reward sensitivity with IA symptoms, while also assessing negative mood as another potential mediator. An online sample of 310 internet users aged 18–65 years completed measures of alexithymia, reward sensitivity, negative mood, and IA symptoms. The Frontal Systems Behaviour Scale (FrSBe) assessed signs of frontal dysfunction. Hierarchical regression controlling for demographic variables accounted for 52% of variance in IA symptoms; reward sensitivity, negative mood, and executive dysfunction were highly significant in the final model. Path analysis indicated that associations of alexithymia and reward sensitivity with IA symptoms were mediated by the FrSBe Executive Dysfunction subscale and negative mood. Methodological limitations and potential theoretical and clinical implications are discussed.