The relationship between technology addictions and schizotypal traits: mediating roles of depression, anxiety, and stress
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 t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-01-01
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| Series: | BMC Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-04563-9 |
| _version_ | 1811175767146496000 |
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| author | Feten Fekih-Romdhane Haitham Jahrami Rami Away Khaled Trabelsi Seithikurippu R. Pandi-Perumal Mary V. Seeman Souheil Hallit Majda Cheour |
| author_facet | Feten Fekih-Romdhane Haitham Jahrami Rami Away Khaled Trabelsi Seithikurippu R. Pandi-Perumal Mary V. Seeman Souheil Hallit Majda Cheour |
| author_sort | Feten Fekih-Romdhane |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T19:41:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b0c4c0de071647e8b79dd2e599fdcc48 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-244X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T19:41:14Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-b0c4c0de071647e8b79dd2e599fdcc482023-01-29T12:18:49ZengBMCBMC Psychiatry1471-244X2023-01-012311910.1186/s12888-023-04563-9The relationship between technology addictions and schizotypal traits: mediating roles of depression, anxiety, and stressFeten Fekih-Romdhane0Haitham Jahrami1Rami Away2Khaled Trabelsi3Seithikurippu R. Pandi-Perumal4Mary V. Seeman5Souheil Hallit6Majda Cheour7Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, Tunis Al Manar UniversityCollege of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf UniversityFaculty of Medicine of Tunis, Tunis Al Manar UniversityHigh Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, University of SfaxSomnogen Canada IncDepartment of Psychiatry, University of TorontoSchool of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Holy Spirit University of KaslikFaculty of Medicine of Tunis, Tunis Al Manar UniversityAbstract 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.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-04563-9SchizotypyPsychosisSmartphone addictionInternet addictionFacebook addictionPsychological distress |
| spellingShingle | Feten Fekih-Romdhane Haitham Jahrami Rami Away Khaled Trabelsi Seithikurippu R. Pandi-Perumal Mary V. Seeman Souheil Hallit Majda Cheour The relationship between technology addictions and schizotypal traits: mediating roles of depression, anxiety, and stress BMC Psychiatry Schizotypy Psychosis Smartphone addiction Internet addiction Facebook addiction Psychological distress |
| title | The relationship between technology addictions and schizotypal traits: mediating roles of depression, anxiety, and stress |
| title_full | The relationship between technology addictions and schizotypal traits: mediating roles of depression, anxiety, and stress |
| title_fullStr | The relationship between technology addictions and schizotypal traits: mediating roles of depression, anxiety, and stress |
| title_full_unstemmed | The relationship between technology addictions and schizotypal traits: mediating roles of depression, anxiety, and stress |
| title_short | The relationship between technology addictions and schizotypal traits: mediating roles of depression, anxiety, and stress |
| title_sort | relationship between technology addictions and schizotypal traits mediating roles of depression anxiety and stress |
| topic | Schizotypy Psychosis Smartphone addiction Internet addiction Facebook addiction Psychological distress |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-04563-9 |
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