Examination of adolescents’ digital addictions, prosocial behaviors and alexithymia characteristics with CHAID analysis

This study aims to examine adolescents’ prosocial behaviors and alexithymia characteristics in relation to their digital addictions using CHAID decision tree analysis. The study sample consisted of 363 adolescents aged between 14 and 17 who were attending high schools in the İstanbul-Turkiye. Data collection tools included a Demographic Information Form, the Digital Addiction Scale for Adolescents and Youth, the Adolescent Prosocial Behavior Scale, and the Alexithymia Scale for Children. Descriptive statistics and CHAID analysis were used for data analysis. The most significant variables influencing adolescents’ digital addiction were identified as the alexithymia subdimensions: difficulty identifying feelings, externally oriented thinking, and difficulty describing feelings. Adolescents with lower scores in difficulty describing feelings exhibited more intrinsic prosocial behaviors, whereas those with average levels of externally oriented thinking demonstrated extrinsic prosocial behaviors. A significant relationship was found between adolescents’ digital addictions and the alexithymia subdimensions—difficulty identifying feelings, difficulty describing feelings, and externally oriented thinking—as well as with prosociality. As adolescents spend more time in digital environments, their alexithymia characteristics and prosocial behaviors appear to be affected.