An Empirical Study of Problematic Internet Use and Self-Esteem

Laura Widyanto, Mark D. Griffiths, An Empirical Study of Problematic Internet Use and Self-Esteem, International Journal of Cyber Behavior, Psychology and Learning, 1(1), 13-24, January-March 2011

ABSTRACT

Previous research has alluded to the existence of a relationship between self-esteem and problematic Internet use. The main aim of the study was to examine the relationship between problematic Internet use and a number of distinct demographic, behavioural, and psychosocial variables. Using an online survey, a self-selected sample comprising 1,467 Internet users participated in the study. The survey comprised 50 questions including validated scales for both self-esteem (Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale) and problematic Internet use (Internet Related Problem Scale; IPRS) in addition to demographic information. Based on previous literature, it was hypothesized that problematic Internet users were more likely than non-problematic Internet users to post low self-esteem scores. Results showed that self-esteem was strongly and negatively associated with IRPS. Also, for those with high IRPS scores, participation in online forums was the primary online activity followed by online gaming and chatting. Although the study comprised a self-selecting sample and utilized self-report, the results appear to provide robust evidence of an association between self-esteem and problematic Internet use mirroring prior research in the area.

Keywords: Addiction, Internet Use, Internet Related Problem Scale (IPRS), Problematic Internet Use, Self-Esteem

Does Internet use reflect your personality?

Leman Pinar Tosun, Timo Lajunen, Does Internet use reflect your personality? Relationship between Eysenck’s personality dimensions and Internet use, Computers in Human Behavior 26 (2010) 162–167, doi:10.1016/j.chb.2009.10.010

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between three Eysenckian personality dimensions – psychoticism, extroversion and neuroticism – and the Internet use. A sample of 427 Turkish university students completed the Eysenck’s Personality Questionnaire, an Internet survey which contained questions about interpersonal motives for Internet use and a scale for measuring the tendency for expressing one’s ‘‘true” self on the Internet. The results indicated that psychoticism was the only personality dimension related to establishing new relationships and having ‘‘Internet only” friends; and extroversion was the only personality dimension that is related to maintaining long-distance relationships, and supporting daily face-to-face relationships. The results supported the idea that for some individuals, Internet can be used as social substitute for face-to-face social interactions while for some others it can be used as a tool of social extension, depending on the user’s personality characteristics. Also, psychoticism and neuroticism were found to be positively associated with the expressing ‘‘true self” on the Internet, and it was shown that the relationship between psychoticism and Internet uses as social substitute is mediated by the tendency to express one’s true self on the Internet.

Keywords: Personality, Internet, Psychoticism

Understanding Internet Usage : A Social-Cognitive Approach to Uses and Gratifications

Robert Larose, Dana Mastro, Matthew S. Eastin (2001) Understanding Internet Usage: A Social-Cognitive Approach to Uses and Gratifications, Social Science Computer Review 19: 395, DOI: 10.1177/089443930101900401

Abstract

Several studies have applied uses and gratifications to explain Internet usage. Like Bandura’s social-cognitive theory, the uses and gratifications framework explains media use in terms of expected positive outcomes, or gratifications. However, previous uses and gratifications research accounted for little variance in Internet behavior, although there were conflicting results. This research identifies new variables from social-cognitive theory that might further explain Internet usage and resolve inconsistencies in prior research. Measures of self-efficacy and self-disparagement were developed for the domain of Internet behavior. Internet addiction was interpreted as a deficient self-regulation within the social-cognitive framework. Finally, the negative outcomes of online behavior were analyzed for their impact on Internet usage. In a survey of 171 college students, the social-cognitive model explained 60% of the available variance in Internet usage using multiple regression analysis, a significant improvement over prior uses and gratifications research.

Keywords: Internet use, Internet behavior, social-cognitive theory, self-efficacy, self-disparagement, gratifications, multiple regression models