The Role of Personality and Psychological Needs on the Problematic Internet Use and Problematic Social Media Use

Abstract

Current study investigates the relationships among personality characteristics, psychological needs,problematic Internet use and problematic social media use. A theoretical model was specified, estimated,and evaluated based on the data collected from 436 college students (Mean Age = 20.93 years, SD = 2.11years). First, structural equation modeling approach was used to validate the research model. The modelsuggests that personality has significant direct and indirect effects on problematic Internet use but it has onlya significant indirect effect on problematic social media use through psychological needs. Further, there isalso a significant direct effect of psychological needs on both problematic Internet use and problematic socialmedia use. An increase in neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness leadsto an increase in dominance, autonomy, affiliation, and achievement, whereas an increase in psychologicalneeds leads to a decrease in problematic Internet use and problematic social media use. Implications of thefindings are discussed for theory and practice in cyberpsychology.