Assessment of the relationship between social network addiction and anxiety, Alexithymia and personality types using weighted path analysis model in students of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences

Background and Objective: Since addiction to social networks or the Internet is affected by different psychological variables, variables such as anxiety, Alexithymia and differentpersonality types can be effective.The aim of this study was to Assessment of the direct and indirect relationship between factors related to Internet addiction and social networks using weighted path analysis model.Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted in ۲۰۲۰ on ۱۰۰۰ students in Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. The data collection tool was a standardized questionnaire addiction to the social networks, Spielberger Anxiety Questionnaire (STAI), Alexithymia Questionnaire (TAS-۲۰) and Bortner Questionnaire distributed online among students. Weighted path analysis method with Mplus software was used for analysis.Results: Most students ۹۰۳ (۹۰.۳%) had severe anxiety, ۳۸۱ (۳۸.۱%) had severe Alexithymia and ۹۷۹ (۹۷.۹%) had type A personality type. The final model was fitted well with sample data (p = ۰.۰۰۰۰۱, RMSEA = ۰.۰۰۰۱, CFI =۱, WRMR = ۰.۰۰۰۱ in men and women). In the direct path in women, the variables of anxiety, have an inverse effect and the variable of Alexithymia have a direct effect on addiction to social networks and were statistically significant. In the indirect path, in men and women the Alexithymia have an increasing effect on social network addiction and personality scores only in men has an increasing effect on social network addiction and were statistically significant.Conclusion: Attention to these effective factors in preventing addiction to social networks and the Internet by Experts is essential, because it can harm the social life of students, their future scientific and professional activities.

Keywords:

Addiction , Social Networks , Anxiety , Alexithymia , personality types , Students