Evaluation of Internet Use and Personality Characteristics

The general objective of this research was to analyse the relationship between Internet addiction, alexithymia coping strategies and assertive behaviour. 296 university students aged between 18-24 were divided into two groups based on the results obtained from the Internet Addiction Test. The first objective of this research was to compare the levels of alexithymia, the coping strategies normally used and the forms of interpersonal behaviour in subjects for whom Internet use does not seem to determine specific problems (IATtot scoring <40) and in whom these problems present some problems strictly connected to Internet use (IATtot scoring between 40 and 69). The aim was to verify whether the variables considered (alexithymia, coping and interpersonal behaviour) could be correlated differently in the two groups of subjects examined. Despite the evident methodological limits, the present research has highlighted some rather interesting personal and behavioural aspects. Same relevant differences were found in coping strategies and in identifying and describing feelings between groups. The correlations between problematic use of the Internet, alexithymia and an inadequate management of personal limits appear to be rather interesting.