Alessandra Melita

Dr. Alessandra Melita

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

4Years (2023-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

View All Publications
ASAndrea Scalone
Andrea Scalone
GSGianluca Santoro
Gianluca Santoro
JCJosephin Cavallo
Josephin Cavallo
AMAlessandra Melita
Alessandra Melita
Alessio GoriAlessio Gori
Alessio Gori
ASAdriano Schimmenti
Adriano Schimmenti
Problematic gaming has been consistently associated with insecure attachment styles and alexithymia. However, there is limited knowledge regarding the impact of specific alexithymic features and insecure attachment styles on problematic gaming. The study included a sample of 358 online game players (242 males, 67.6%) between the ages of 18 and 59 (M = 28.46; SD = 8.76) who were recruited from online gaming communities. The participants completed a sociodemographic schedule and measures on attachment styles, alexithymia, and problematic gaming. The results provide evidence for a positive prediction of problematic gaming by dismissing attachment style and the alexithymic factors concerning the difficulty identifying feelings and externally oriented thinking, even when controlling for potentially confounding factors, such as age, sex, education, marital status, and self-reported time devoted to online games. Additionally, the analysis revealed a significant interaction effect between externally oriented thinking and dismissing attachment style in the prediction of problematic gaming. The interaction implies that the alexithymia factors pertaining to externally oriented thinking hold significant relevance in predicting problematic gaming behaviors, especially in cases where dismissive attachment levels are moderately to highly present. These findings emphasize the significance of considering specific insecure attachment styles and alexithymic features when studying problematic gaming behaviors.

13 October 2025 in European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
DCDi Caro
Di Caro
ACAlessandro Vito Di Caro
Alessandro Vito Di Caro
JCJosephin Cavallo
Josephin Cavallo
EMElisa Vittoria Marchese
Elisa Vittoria Marchese
AMAlessandra Melita
Alessandra Melita
ASAdriano Schimmenti
Adriano Schimmenti

1 January 2026 in Psychoanalytic Psychology
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
JCJosephin Cavallo
Josephin Cavallo
ACAlessandro Vito Di Caro
Alessandro Vito Di Caro
EMElisa Vittoria Marchese
Elisa Vittoria Marchese
AMAlessandra Melita
Alessandra Melita
ACAntonino Costanzo
Antonino Costanzo
ASAdriano Schimmenti
Adriano Schimmenti