Asli Devrim-Lanpir, Özlem Akarsu, Hatice Kübra Barcin Güzelder, Kardelen Düzgün, Mahmut Caner Us
Çocuk Dergisi - 2025;25(3):163-171
This study aimed to investigate the relationships between alexithymia, emotional eating, and problematic digital media use (internet and smartphone addiction) during middle adolescence, examining both mediation and moderation models. The study was conducted with 234 adolescents aged 14-17 years. Valid and reliable scales were used to assess alexithymia, emotional eating, internet addiction, and smartphone addiction. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between alexithymia and emotional eating, internet addiction, and smartphone addiction. Mediation analysis examined the role of emotional eating in the relationship between alexithymia and internet addiction. Moderation analysis evaluated the role of alexithymia in the relationship between emotional eating and internet addiction. The results showed that alexithymia was positively related to internet addiction, but not to emotional eating. The relationship between alexithymia and emotional eating was not related to internet addiction. These findings suggest that alexithymia is directly related to digital addiction in adolescence, but not to emotional eating.
