Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access
Open Access Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Restricted Access Subscription Access

Personality Correlates of Internet Addiction among Smartphone Addicted Female Adolescents


Affiliations
1 Assistance Professor, Department of Psychology D.A.V. College, Chandigarh, India
2 PhD., Research Scholar, Department of Psychology, D.A.V. College, Chandigarh, India
     

   Subscribe/Renew Journal


According to Webster Dictionary (2021), addition is defined as a "compulsive, chronic, physiological or psychological need for and use of a habit-forming substance, behaviour, or activity having harmful physical, psychological or social effects characterized by tolerance and typically causing well-defined symptoms upon withdrawal or abstinence". As the penetration of smartphone in this 21st century increases, a highly significant increase in the usage of this device is seen especially amongst the younger generation (Bianchi & Phillips, 2005). Now, with the facility of operating internet-based activity in the Smartphone and with its all-time convenient accessibility, its usage is soon turning into an abuse. Hence, the aim of the present research is to investigate the relationship between internet addiction and big five-personality traits among smartphone addicted female adolescents. For this purpose, Internet Addiction Test by Young (1998); Smart Phone Addiction Scale by Kwon and Lee (2013); and Big Five Inventory by John, Donahue, and Kentel (1991); and SES Scale (Singh et al., revised, 2017) were administered. The study was conducted in two phases. In the first phase, Internet Addiction Test by Young (1998) and Socio-economic Status scale was administered and in the second phase, adolescents who scored more than 20 on Internet Addiction Test and those who belonged to middle-class socio-economic status were selected for the further study. A sample of 100 female adolescents in the age range of 15-18 years, studying in various private schools of Delhi and National Capital Regions (NCR) were thereby taken into consideration. Only students coming from two parent intact family and those possessing and using a personal smart phone for at least last 6 months were selected for the study. The students who were using either their parent's or any other family members' phone were not included. Purposive Sampling method was used for this study to ensure the homogeneity of the sample. Adolescent girls were moderately addicted to both internet and their smartphones. Results clearly exhibited that both internet addiction and smartphone addiction were related, but separate forms of addictions, having different personality correlates. Girls who were introverts and were less imaginative, creative or open minded but rather conventional were more prone to both forms of addiction. Whereas those girls who were less conscientious were higher on internet addiction, and perhaps found safe haven there, which may be reduced their anxieties and made them feel secure.

Keywords

Internet Addiction, Smartphone Addiction, Big Five Personality
Subscription Login to verify subscription
User
Notifications
Font Size


  • Ahlan, A.R., & Balogun, N.A. (2013). Internet usage and personality traits: Finding relationship in learning institution. Transnational Journal of Science and Technology, 3, 1-13.
  • Allport, G. W. (1961). Pattern and growth in personality. Oxford, England: Holt, Reinhart and Winston
  • Ambridge, B. (2014). Psy-Q: You know your IQ-now test your psychological intelligence. Profile via Google Books, 11.
  • Arthanari, S., Khalique, N., Ansari, M., & Faizi, N. (2017). Prevalence and determinants of internet addiction among Indian adolescents. Indian Journal of Community Health, 29(1), 89-95. Retrieved from http://www.iapsmupuk.org/journal/index.php/ IJCH/article/view/1687.
  • Arthur, C. (2013). Nokia revenues slide 24% but Lumia sales rise offers hope. Available from: http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/jul/18/nokiarevenues-falllumiasales.
  • Bandura, A. (1989). Social cognitive theory. In R. Vasta (Ed.) Annals of child development. Six theories of child development. JAI Press.
  • Batıgün, A.D., & Kilic, N. (2011). The relationships between internet addiction, social support, psychological symptoms and some socio-demographical variables. Türk Psİkologlar Derneğİ, 26, 1-10.
  • Bonetta, J.P., Sindermann, C., Elhai, J.D., & Montag, C. (2019). Personality associations with smartphone and internet use disorder: A comparison study including links to impulsivity and social anxiety. Frontiers in Public Health, 7, 127. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2019.00127
  • Çelik, S., Atak, H., & Başal, A. (2012). Predictive role of personality traits on internet addiction. Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education, 13, 10-24.
  • Colquitt, J. A., Hollenbeck, J. R., Ilgen, D. R., LePine, J. A., & Sheppard, L. (2002). Computer-assisted communication and team decision-making performance: The moderating effect of openness to experience. Journal of Applied Psychology, 87(2), 402-410. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.87.2.402
  • Correa, T., Hinsley, A.W., & De Zuniga, H.G. (2010). Who interacts on the Web? The intersection of users' personality and social media use. Computers in Human Behavior, 26(2), 247-253.
  • Dwan, T., & Ownsworth, T. (2017). The big five personality factors and psychological well-being following stroke: A systematic review. Disability and Rehabilitation, 41(10), 1119–1130. doi:10.1080/09638288.2017.1419382. ISSN 1464-5165. PMID 29272953.
  • Floros, G., & Siomos, K. (2014). Excessive internet use and personality traits. Current Behaviour Neuroscience Reports, 1, 19-26.
  • Friedman, H., & Schustack, M. (2016). Personality: Classic theories and modern research. Pearson.
  • Goel, D., Subramanyam, A., & Kamath, R. (2013). A study on the prevalence of internet addiction and its association with psychopathology in Indian adolescents. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 55(2), 140. pmid:23825847
  • Hardie, E., & Tee, M.Y. (2007). Excessive internet use: The role of personality, loneliness and social support networks in Internet addiction. Australian Journal of Emerging Technologies and Society, 5, 34-47.
  • Hussain, Z., Griffiths, M.D., & Sheffield, D. (2017). An investigation into problematic smartphone use: The role of narcissism, anxiety, and personality factors. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 6(3), 378–386. doi: 10.1556/2006.6.2017.052
  • John, O. P., Donahue, E. M., & Kentel, R. L. (1991). The big five inventory: Versions 4a and 54 [Technical report]. Berkeley, CA: University of California, Institute of Personality and Social Research.
  • Katz, J.E., & Akhus, M. (2002). Perpetual contact: Mobile communication, private talk, public performance. United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press.
  • Kim, E.J., Namkoong, K., Ku, T., & Kim, S.J. (2008). The relationship between online game addiction and aggression, self-control and narcissistic personality traits. European Psychiatry, 23, 212-218.
  • Krishnamurthy, S., & Chetlapalli, S.K. (2017). Internet addiction: Prevalence and risk factors: A cross-sectional study among college students. Indian Journal of Public Health, 59(2), 115-121.
  • Kuss, J.K., Griffiths, M.D., & Binder, J.F. (2013). Internet addiction in students: prevalence and risk factors. Computers and Human Behaviour, 29, 959-966.
  • Kwon, M., Lee, J. Y., Won, W. Y., Park, J. W., Min, J. A., Hahn, C., & Kim, D. J. (2013). Development and validation of a Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS). PloS One, 8(2), e56936. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0056936.
  • Lachmann, B., Duke, É., Sariyska, R., & Montag, C. (2017a). Who's addicted to the smartphone and/or the internet? Psychology of Popular Media Culture, 8(3), 182–189. doi: 10.1037/ppm0000172/.
  • Lachmann, B., Sindermann, C., Sariyska, R.Y., Luo, R., Melchers, M.C., & Becker, B. (2018). The role of empathy and life satisfaction in internet and smartphone use Disorder. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 398.
  • Landers, R.N., & Lounsbury, J.W. (2004). An investigation of big five and narrow personality traits in relation to Internet usage. Computers in Human Behavior, 22(2), 283-293. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2004.06.001
  • Lane, W., & Manner, C. (2011). The impact of personality traits on smartphone ownership and use. International Journal of Business and Social Science, 2, 17.
  • Larsen, R. J., & Buss, D. M. (2005). Emotion and personality. Personality Psychology, 2, 406-444.
  • Livingstone, S., & Helsper, E. (2010). Balancing opportunities and risks in teenagers' use of the Internet: The role of online skills and Internet self-efficacy. New Media and Society, 12(2), 309-329. doi: 10.1177/1461444809342697
  • Lunenberg, F.C. (2011). Goal-setting theory of motivation. International Journal of Management and Business Administration, 15, 1-6.
  • Mehroof, M., & Griffiths, M.D. (2010). Online gaming addiction: the role of sensation seeking, self-control, neuroticism, aggression, state anxiety, and trait anxiety. Cyberpsychology, Behaviour and Social Networking, 13, 313-316.
  • Müller, K. W., Koch, A., Dickenhorst, U., Beutel, ME., Duven, E., & Wölfing, K. (2013). Addressing the question of disorder-specific risk factors of internet addiction: A comparison of personality traits in patients with addictive behaviors and comorbid internet addiction. Bio Medical Research International, 546342.
  • Nusca, A. (2009). Smartphone vs. feature phone arms race heats up: Which did you buy? Available from: http://www.zdnet.com/blog/gadgetreviews/smartphonevs-featurephonearms-race-heats-up-which-did-youbuy/6836 .
  • O'Neill, M. (March 8, 1995). The lure and addiction of life on line. The New York Times, C1.
  • Ozturk, C., Bektas, M., Ayar, D., Oztornac, B. O., & Yagci, D. (2015). Association of personality traits and risk of Internet addiction in adolescents. Asian Nursing Research, 9, 120-124.
  • Papastylianou, A. (2013). Relating on the internet, personality traits and depression: Research and Implications. European Journal of Counselling Psychology, 2(1), 65-78.
  • Ross, C., Orr, E.S., Sisic, M., Arseneault, J.M., Simmering, M.G., & Orr, R.R. (2009). Personality and motivations associated with Facebook use. Computers in Human Behavior, 25(2), 578-586.
  • Rozgonjuk, D., Rosenvald, V., & Täht, K. (2016). Adaptation and Validation of the 33item Estonian Smartphone Addiction Scale (E-SAS-33). Poster presented at the 21st Annual Cyber Psychology, Cyber Therapy & Social Networking Conference (CYPSY21), Dublin, Ireland.
  • Ryckman, R. M. (2008). Theories of personality (9th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publisher Company.
  • Samarein, Z.A., Far, N.S., Yekleh, M., Tahmasebi, S., Yaryavi, F., & Ramezani, V., et al. (2013). Relationship between personality traits and internet addiction of students. Kharazmi university. International Journal of Psychological Behaviour Resolution, 2, 10-17.
  • Sawnani, S. (2013). Is your child a smartphone addict? Available from: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/personal-tech/computing/Is-your-child-asmartphoneaddict/
  • articleshow/27351496.cms .
  • Servidio, R. (2014). Exploring the effects of demographic factors, Internet usage and personality traits on Internet addiction in a sample of Italian university students. Computers in Human Behaviour, 35, 85-92.
  • Singh, T., Sharma, S., & Nagesh, S. (2017). Socio-economic status scales updated for 2017. International Journal Research of Medical Sciences, 5, 3264-3267.
  • Skues, J.L., Williams, B., & Wise, L. (2012). The effects of personality traits, selfesteem, loneliness, and narcissism on Facebook use among university students. Computers in Human Behaviour, 28, 2414-2419.
  • Somer, O., Korkmaz, M., & Tatar, A. (2002). Development of five factor personality inventory. Türk Psikoloji Dergisi, 17, 21-33.
  • Srijampana, R., Endreddy, A., Prabhath, K., & Rajana, B. (2014). Prevalence and patterns of internet addiction among medical students. Medical Journal DY, 7(6), 709-713.
  • Stoeva, A.Z., Chiu, R., & Greenhaus, J.H. (2002). Negative affectivity, role stress, and work-family conflict. Journal of Vocational Behaviours, 60, 1-16.
  • Surwase, K., Bagdey, P., & Adikane, H. (2017). Prevalence and associated risk factors of internet addiction in college going students. National Journal of Community Medicine, 8(5), 213-218.
  • Takao, M. (2014). Problematic mobile phone use and big-five personality domains. Indian Journal of Community and Medicine, 39, 111-113.
  • Toegel, G., & Barsoux, J. L. (2012). How to become a better leader. MIT Sloan Management Review, 53(3), 51-60.
  • Yayan, E. H., Düken, M. E., Suna Dağ, Y., & Ulutaş, A. (2018). Examination of the relationship between nursing student's internet and smartphone addictions. Journal of Human Sciences, 15(2), 1161-1171.
  • Yayan, E. H., Dağ, Y. S., Düken, M. E., & Ulutaş, A. (2019). Investigation of relationship between smartphone addiction and internet addiction in working children in industry. Journal of Human Sciences, 16(1), 143-154.
  • Young, K.S. (1998). Caught in the net: How to recognize internet addiction and a winning strategy for recovery. New York, NY: John Wiley and Sons, Inc.

Abstract Views: 221

PDF Views: 0




  • Personality Correlates of Internet Addiction among Smartphone Addicted Female Adolescents

Abstract Views: 221  |  PDF Views: 0

Authors

Rohini Thapar
Assistance Professor, Department of Psychology D.A.V. College, Chandigarh, India
Shubhra Jain
PhD., Research Scholar, Department of Psychology, D.A.V. College, Chandigarh, India

Abstract


According to Webster Dictionary (2021), addition is defined as a "compulsive, chronic, physiological or psychological need for and use of a habit-forming substance, behaviour, or activity having harmful physical, psychological or social effects characterized by tolerance and typically causing well-defined symptoms upon withdrawal or abstinence". As the penetration of smartphone in this 21st century increases, a highly significant increase in the usage of this device is seen especially amongst the younger generation (Bianchi & Phillips, 2005). Now, with the facility of operating internet-based activity in the Smartphone and with its all-time convenient accessibility, its usage is soon turning into an abuse. Hence, the aim of the present research is to investigate the relationship between internet addiction and big five-personality traits among smartphone addicted female adolescents. For this purpose, Internet Addiction Test by Young (1998); Smart Phone Addiction Scale by Kwon and Lee (2013); and Big Five Inventory by John, Donahue, and Kentel (1991); and SES Scale (Singh et al., revised, 2017) were administered. The study was conducted in two phases. In the first phase, Internet Addiction Test by Young (1998) and Socio-economic Status scale was administered and in the second phase, adolescents who scored more than 20 on Internet Addiction Test and those who belonged to middle-class socio-economic status were selected for the further study. A sample of 100 female adolescents in the age range of 15-18 years, studying in various private schools of Delhi and National Capital Regions (NCR) were thereby taken into consideration. Only students coming from two parent intact family and those possessing and using a personal smart phone for at least last 6 months were selected for the study. The students who were using either their parent's or any other family members' phone were not included. Purposive Sampling method was used for this study to ensure the homogeneity of the sample. Adolescent girls were moderately addicted to both internet and their smartphones. Results clearly exhibited that both internet addiction and smartphone addiction were related, but separate forms of addictions, having different personality correlates. Girls who were introverts and were less imaginative, creative or open minded but rather conventional were more prone to both forms of addiction. Whereas those girls who were less conscientious were higher on internet addiction, and perhaps found safe haven there, which may be reduced their anxieties and made them feel secure.

Keywords


Internet Addiction, Smartphone Addiction, Big Five Personality

References