Disconnected emotions, connected behaviors: Symptom network features of problematic mobile phone use across different...

Problematic mobile phone use (PMPU) has been associated with individual-level psychological traits, notably alexithymia-a personality construct characterized by difficulty identifying and describing emotions, and a tendency toward externally oriented thinking. However, the heterogeneity of alexithymia in relation to PMPU remains insufficiently explored. In this study, 2345 university students completed the Toronto Alexithymia Scale and the Mobile Phone Addiction Index. Latent profile analysis identified four distinct alexithymia subtypes: Healthy Expression, Typical Alexithymia, Mild Emotional Processing Difficulties, and High Externally Oriented Thinking. Within each subgroup, psychological network analysis was used to examine the structural interconnections of PMPU symptoms. Core PMPU symptoms varied across profiles, with distraction, inability to reduce use, and feeling lost without the phone emerging as central nodes in most networks. Bridge symptoms linking emotional and behavioral dimensions also differed by profile. Network comparison tests revealed significant differences in overall structure and connectivity between groups. These findings underscore the complexity and heterogeneity of emotional processing mechanisms in PMPU and suggest the value of personalized, profile-specific intervention strategies.