Ricerc@Sapienza

In the last decade there has been a growing concern about dysfunctional use of technologies including Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) a condition that requires further research before its consideration as a formal disorder in the DSM-5. Adolescents are more likely to exhibit risk-taking behaviors and difficulties in emotion regulation. The association between IGD and mental health has been explored across a range of studies. However, few studies have been conducted to examine the relation between IGD and somatic symptoms in adolescence.

Despite the fact that somatic symptoms are related to the quality of attachment, few studies have been conducted to explore the variables that mediate this relationship in childhood. The present study investigates the role of anxiety, attachment to peers, and depressive symptoms as mediators of the relationship between attachment to parents and somatic symptoms. 340 children (49.1% males) between the ages of 8-11 (Mean age=9.25, SD=0.89) participated in this study.