4491 - COGNITIVE AND AFFECTIVE VULNERABILITIES IN TECHNOLOGY ADDICTION

Session: 4488 - DIGITAL WORK, TECHNOSTRESS AND NEW DIRECTIONS FOR OCCUPATIONAL WELL-BEING
AUTHORS:
Arena Federica (Psychiatric Unit, Polyclinic Hospital ~ Messina ~ Italy) , Lombardo Clara (Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro ~ Catanzaro ~ Italy) , Godfrey Francesca (Psychiatric Unit, Polyclinic Hospital ~ Messina ~ Italy) , Accetta Alessandra Sara (Psychiatric Unit, Polyclinic Hospital ~ Messina ~ Italy) , Zuccalà Federica (Psychiatric Unit, Polyclinic Hospital ~ Messina ~ Italy) , Mento Carmela (University of Messina ~ Messina ~ Italy)
Abstract text:
Introduction: Internet Addiction is increasingly recognised as a multifactorial phenomenon involving cognitive, emotional and temperamental dimensions, and is receiving growing attention in relation to emerging technostress processes. While previous research has examined these factors separately, fewer studies have explored them together in individuals with problematic internet use.
Purpose: This study aimed to examine cognitive and affective factors associated with mild and moderate levels of technology addiction, focusing on affective temperaments, working memory functioning, and coping strategies as potential vulnerability mechanisms relevant to technostress processes.
Method: A total of 170 participants, aged between 17 and 65, completed an online survey administered via digital platforms. Based on the severity of their addiction, 124 participants were classified as having mild dependence, while 46 were classified as having moderate dependence. The assessment protocol included measures of affective temperament, self-reported working memory function and coping strategies.
Results: Participants reported extensive daily use of social media and high levels of sleep-related difficulties. Comparative analyses revealed that individuals with moderate internet addiction experienced significantly greater impairment across all working memory dimensions. Furthermore, this group showed higher prevalence of irritable, depressive, and cyclothymic temperaments compared to those with mild addiction, as well as greater use of dysfunctional coping strategies.
Conclusions: The results highlight the important role of emotional and cognitive processes in understanding Internet Addiction, especially as they relate to emerging digital stressors. Alterations in working memory function, together with specific affective temperamental profiles, suggest that Internet Addiction should be considered within an integrated model involving emotional regulation, cognitive resources, and adaptive functioning, and not yet as merely behavioral manifestations.