title: Alexithymia components in excessive internet users: a multi-factorial analysis.
abstract: The increasing use of computers and the internet - especially among young people - apart from its positive effects, sometimes leads to excessive and pathological use. The present study examined the relationship among the excessive use of the internet by university students, the alexithymia components and sociodemographic factors associated with internet users and their online activities. 515 university students from the University of Thessaly participated in the study. Participants anonymously completed: a) the Internet Addiction Test (IAT), b) the Toronto Alexithymia Test (TAS 20) and c) a questionnaire covering various aspects of internet use and demographic characteristics of internet users. Excessive use of the internet among Greek university students was studied within a multi-factorial context and was associated with the alexithymia and demographic factors in nonlinear correlations, forming thus a personalized emotional and demographic profile of the excessive internet users.
authors.affiliation: University General Hospital of Larissa, Larissa, Greece. Electronic address: dorettadr@yahoo.gr.
authors.forename: Theodora A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Kandri
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Thessaly, Medical School, Larissa, Greece.
authors.forename: Konstantinos S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Bonotis
authors.affiliation: Hellenic Association for the Study of Internet Addiction Disorder, Larissa, Greece.
authors.forename: Georgios D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Floros
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Developmental Psychology and Psychopathology, Department of Preschool Education, University of Thessaly, Volos, Greece.
authors.forename: Maria M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Zafiropoulou
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Externally oriented thinking; Internet addiction; Non-linear canonical correlation analysis (OVERALS)