Development and Maintenance of Self-Disclosure on Facebook: The Role of Personality Traits

This study explored the relationships between Facebook self-disclosure and personality traits in a sample of Italian users. The aim was to analyze the predictive role of Big Five personality traits on different parameters of breadth and depth of selfdisclosed behaviors online. Facebook users, aged between 18 and 64 years of age (Mage = 25.3 years, SD = 6.8; N = 958), of which 51% were female, voluntarily completed an online survey assessing personality traits and Facebook self-disclosure. Results at a series of hierarchical regression analyses significantly corroborated the hypotheses that high extroverted and openness people tend to disclose on Facebook a significant amount of personal information, whereas high consciousness and agreeableness users are less inclined to do it. Furthermore, more extroverts and agreeableness people develop less intimacy on Facebook, differently from those with high levels of openness. Results also corroborated the hypothesis of a full mediation of time usage in the relationship between personality factors such as extroversion and conscientiousness with breadth of Facebook self-disclosure. Overall, according to the findings of the current study, personality traits and Facebook self-disclosure become central both as predictive variables for depicting the different profiles of potential addicted and as variables to help educators, teachers, and clinicians to develop training or therapeutic programs aimed at preventing the risk of Internet addiction. Limitations of the study are discussed, and directions for future research are suggested

Internet addiction in students: prevalence and risk factors

The last decade has witnessed a large increase in research on the newly emerging mental health problem of Internet addiction. Rather than looking at Internet addiction per se, this study focused on particular activities on the Internet that might be potentially addictive and linked them to personality traits that might predispose individuals to Internet addiction. The aims of this study were (i) to assess the prevalence of clinically significant levels of Internet addiction, and to (ii) discern the interplay between personality traits and specific Internet uses in increasing the risk for Internet addiction. This cross-sectional online survey used data from 2,257 students of an English university. Results indicated that 3.2% of the students were classified as being addicted to the Internet. The included personality traits and uses of online activities explained 21.5% of the variance in Internet addiction. A combination of online shopping and neuroticism decreased the risk for Internet addiction, whereas a combination of online gaming and openness to experience increased it. In addition to this, frequent usage of online shopping and social online activities, high neuroticism and low agreeableness significantly increased the chances of being addicted to the Internet. Findings and their implications are discussed

Attachment and problematic Facebook use in adolescents: the mediating role of metacognitions

Background and aims: Recent research used attachment theory and the metacognitive tenet as frameworks to explain problematic Facebook use (PFU). This study aims to test, in a single model, the role of different attachment styles and metacognitions in PFU among adolescents. Methods: Two separate studies were conducted in order to establish the link between security (Study 1) and insecurity (Study 2), metacognitions, and PFU. A total of 369 and 442 Italian adolescents (age: 14–20 years old) participated in Study 1 and Study 2, respectively. Results: Path analyses revealed the relative importance of different attachment dimensions with mother and father in predicting PFU and the mediating role of metacognitions between attachment styles and PFU. Discussion and conclusion: In conclusion, since attachment styles and PFU may significantly affect adolescents’ development and well-being, the results of this study may provide some practical indications for researchers and practitioners

A Web of Distortion: How Internet Use is Related to Cognitive Distortion, Personality Traits, and Relationship Dissatisfaction

Internet use is a growing trend among every segment of the population. There are many positive aspects of internet use, such as increased information sharing, communication, business opportunities, and education. However, excessive internet usage has been shown to have a number of deleterious effects on individuals, families, and relationships. Pathological internet use is a growing concern that can have numerous negative outcomes. This study has demonstrated the fact that specific types of internet use were associated with cognitive distortion, personality traits, and relationship satisfaction. Moreover, the number of hours of internet use by type was related to average, weekly, total number of hours of internet use. A difference was also found between users and nonusers of internet pornography. The findings from this study can be used to further develop screening instruments, inform clinical practice, and improve treatment guidelines so that individuals with pathological internet use can be identified and treated

Magic mirror on the wall: Selfie-related behavior as mediator of the relationship between narcissism and problematic smartphone use

Objective: Recent research has suggested that problematic smartphone use is associated with several psychological factors and that mobile apps and smartphone-related behavior (i.e. selfi e behavior) may encourage the development of problematic smartphone use. However, little is known about how the interplay between dysfunctional personality characteristics and selfi e-related behavior can infl uence problematic smartphone use. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between narcissism and problematic smartphone use, as well as the mediating role of selfi e-related behavior in this relationship among young men and women. Method: In the current study, a total of 627 undergraduate students (283 males and 344 females) completed a cross-sectional survey. A structural equation model was tested separately for males and females in order to evaluate the associations between narcissism, selfi e-related behavior and problematic smartphone use. Results: The results showed that greater narcissism was related to increased selfi e-related behavior, which in turn were positively associated with problematic smartphone use both for males and females. However, selfi e-related behavior mediated the relationship between narcissism and problematic smartphone use only for females. Conclusions: The study provides fresh insight into our understanding of the psychological mechanisms underlying problematic smartphone use, which may inform prevention and treatment interventions

Internet addiction in adolescents: prevalence and risk factors

As new media are becoming daily fare, Internet addiction appears as a potential problem in adolescents. From the reported negative consequences, it appears that Internet addiction can have a variety of detrimental outcomes for young people that may require professional intervention. Researchers have now identified a number of activities and personality traits associated with Internet addiction. This study aimed to synthesise previous findings by (i) assessing the prevalence of potential Internet addiction in a large sample of adolescents, and (ii) investigating the interactions between personality traits and the usage of particular Internet applications as risk factors for Internet addiction. A total of 3,105 adolescents in the Netherlands filled out a self-report questionnaire including the Compulsive Internet Use Scale and the Quick Big Five Scale. Results indicate that 3.7% of the sample were classified as potentially being addicted to the Internet. The use of online gaming and social applications (online social networking sites and Twitter) increased the 2 risk for Internet addiction, whereas extraversion and conscientiousness appeared as protective factors in high frequency online gamers. The findings support the inclusion of 'Internet addiction' in the DSM-V. Vulnerability and resilience appear as significant aspects that require consideration in further studies

Personality traits related to problematic Facebook use

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) encouraged research in the area of Internet Gaming Disorder, by including it in the Conditions for Further Study section of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , 5th Edition (DSM-5; APA, 2013). The present study attempted to determine which personality traits were associated with problematic Facebook use, a subset of problematic Internet use. The Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale (BFAS), Narcissistic Personality Inventory-Sixteen (NPI-16), International Personality Item Pool (IPIP) items related to extraversion, IPIP items related to neuroticism, Internet Addiction Test (1AT), Facebook Intensity Scale (FBI), a demographic information form, and Exploratory Facebook Use Questionnaire were used to determine if specific personality traits were associated with problematic Facebook use. Participants were 295 Facebook users, recruited through social media. Participants reported more Facebook friends and the average participant age was over a decade older than in prior studies. The average number of hours spent on Facebook per day was similar to previous research. Females reported having significantly more Facebook friends and yielded significantly lower scores on personality measures than males. On the three measures of problematic Facebook use, results were mixed. Females produced lower scores than males on two measures and higher scores on a third measure. Additionally, results suggest narcissism, extraversion, and neuroticism predict problematic Facebook use in males, but not females. Higher levels of narcissism and extroversion were found to be associated with higher scores on measures of problematic Facebook use. Additionally, neuroticism and extraversion were significant positive predictors of problematic Facebook use. Positive endorsement of Exploratory Facebook Use Questions was associated with higher scores on two measures of problematic Facebook use. Lastly, participants with higher problematic Internet use also reported higher levels of problematic Facebook use. Continued research is needed to understand better the full nature of problematic Internet and/or subsets (i.e., problematic Facebook use)

ALEXITHYMIA IN FACEBOOK ADDICTION: ABOVE AND BEYOND THE ROLE OF PATHOLOGICAL NARCISSISM

Background: Personality dysfunctions and deficits in the capacity to cope with negative emotional states have been related to internet addictions. However, in relation to Facebook addiction, this issue remains poorly investigated. Specifically, few studies explored the role played by grandiose and vulnerable narcissism in Facebook addiction. Furthermore, the relationship between alexithymia and pathological narcissism has not yet been explored in relation to problematic Facebook use. The main objective of this study was to examine the association among Facebook addiction, pathological narcissism and alexithymia. Method: A cross sectional study was designed to this aim. A sample of adult participants (N=270; Mage= 41.05; SD = 14.05) was administered the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale (BFAS), The Pathological Narcissism Inventory (PNI) and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). Results: Results showed that pathological narcissism, and especially grandiose narcissism, appears to be an important factor associated to problematic Facebook usage among adults. Moreover, difficulties in the capacity to identify their own emotional states may be a risk factor for such condition. Conclusions: In conclusion, these results are in line with other data found in the field of behavioral addictions and add further reflection for planning more specific clinical intervention programs for individuals addicted to Facebook with narcissistic traits. These may benefit from a greater focus on the impairments in self-monitoring capacities such as emotional awareness. Personality psychopathologies should be targeted by clinical interventions, but also broader functional impairments (as such as alexithymia) should be addressed as more strategic therapeutic objectives in the field of Facebook Addiction

Shyness, self-esteem, and loneliness as causes of FA: The moderating effect of low self-control

This study examined the impacts of shyness, self-esteem and loneliness on Facebook addiction by considering their inter-relations. Furthermore, the moderating effect of low self-control on the relationship between Facebook addiction and individuals’ performance was also examined. Data were collected via an online survey from 348 Malaysians and were analysed using the partial least squares technique. The results showed that shyness has both a direct effect and an indirect effect through loneliness on Facebook addiction. Although self-esteem has no direct effect on Facebook addiction, it has an indirect effect through loneliness. The results also confirmed that low self-control negatively moderates the relationship between Facebook addiction and individuals’ performance. The findings of the study contribute to knowledge on the impacts of social and psychological problem, including shyness, self-esteem and loneliness, on Facebook addiction. In addition, this study is the first attempt to investigate the moderating effect of personal characteristics, including low self-control, on the relationship between Facebook addiction and performance. The results could benefit psychologists, managers, and school counsellors in helping to prevent Facebook addiction and control its effect on individuals’ performance by developing prevention and intervention programs

The Effect of Social Media Addiction on Romantic Relationship Outcomes: Factors Associated with Social Media Addiction

Does exposure to glamorous profiles on social media evoke romantic dissatisfaction? Or is social media a refuge for unsatisfied partners? Social networking sites (SNSs) have simplified virtual interactions with strangers cum instant ‘friends’, whose embellished profiles evoke jealousy, envy, dissatisfaction, and unhappiness. SNSs also provide easy access to alternative romantic partners, which adversely affects commitment to the primary relationship. Commitment is choosing to forsake other choices. Theoretically, commitment to a romantic partner diminishes if alternative partners are readily available. Researchers argue that preoccupation with SNSs activities and monitoring romantic alternatives affect commitment by lowering satisfaction, offering alternatives, and displacing time and emotional investments. Authors of existing studies have mostly used college student populations to examine the effect of SNSs use on romantic relationships. Findings from such studies cannot be generalised to other populations because college students are less likely to be committed, cohabiting, or married. To increase the generalisability of research, I designed three independent studies to explore factors that are linked with SNSs compulsive use (addiction) in both college and non-college populations. The results showed that romantic disengagement was positively linked with Facebook addiction, and that relationship commitment alone was not enough to protect committed partners against Facebook addiction. Younger partners, irrespective of their relationship status (committed or dating), were predisposed to SNSs addiction and SNSs-related infidelity behaviours. They also experienced low commitment and were more likely to subscribe to a significantly greater number of SNS accounts than older partners. Dating partners, as opposed to committed partners, reported better quality of available romantic alternatives (especially sexual alternatives) despite reporting no difference in their SNSs-related infidelity behaviours or relationship satisfaction. There was also a significant positive relationship between SNSs addiction and SNSs-related infidelity behaviours, and this relationship was moderated by age. Additionally, neuroticism was connected with negative affect and Facebook addiction partially mediated this relationship. Finally, mental health status was also linked with SNSs addiction and this relationship was partially mediated by SNSs-related infidelity behaviours. Overall, SNSs addiction appeared to be linked with adverse personal (neuroticism, mental illness) and romantic outcomes (romantic disengagement, low commitment, SNSs-related infidelity). Relationship status (dating vs committed/married) and age also appeared to influence the connection between SNSs addiction and adverse behaviours. Future studies can build on these findings and explore other SNSs behaviours that are linked with adverse relationship outcomes. SNSs are likely to remain the main platform for virtual communications for the foreseeable future. Therefore, users should be wary of SNSs interactions that can potentially jeopardise their romantic relationships