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Internet Interpersonal Connection Mediates the Association between Personality and Internet Addiction

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  • Yun-Hsuan Chang

    (Department of Psychology, College of Medical and Health Science, Asia University, Taichung 41354, Taiwan
    Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
    Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan)

  • Yun-Ting Lee

    (Department of Psychology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan)

  • Shulan Hsieh

    (Department of Psychology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan
    Institute of Allied Health Sciences; National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan
    Department and Institute of Public Health, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan)

Abstract

Backgrounds: The development of the Internet has changed interpersonal interactions, so that people no longer need to physically meet each other. However, some people are more vulnerable to becoming addicted to Internet activities, something to which the ease of Internet access and usage has contributed. In this study, we examined the association between personality traits and feelings about online interpersonal interactions to predict Internet addiction. This was accomplished using an online advertisement that asked participants to complete the questionnaires in the laboratory. Methods: Two hundred and twenty-three participants with a mean age of 22.50 years were recruited for this study and asked to complete the following questionnaires: the Beck Depressive Inventory (BDI), the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), the Chen Internet Addiction Scale (CIAS), the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ), the Internet Usage Questionnaire (IUQ) and the Feelings of Internet Interpersonal Interaction Questionnaire (FIIIQ). Results: The results showed that people with a neurotic personality and anxious feelings about Internet interpersonal interactions are more likely to become addicted to the Internet. In addition, people with neuroticism and who are more anxious about Internet interpersonal relationships are more likely to develop Internet addiction. Conclusions: People who tend to develop new interpersonal relationships via the Internet and be anxious about online interpersonal relationships are more vulnerable to becoming addicted to the Internet. The individuals who are more anxious about Internet interpersonal interaction and tend to develop new interpersonal relationships via the Internet are more likely to develop Internet addiction.

Suggested Citation

  • Yun-Hsuan Chang & Yun-Ting Lee & Shulan Hsieh, 2019. "Internet Interpersonal Connection Mediates the Association between Personality and Internet Addiction," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-11, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:19:p:3537-:d:269520
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Tony Durkee & Vladimir Carli & Birgitta Floderus & Camilla Wasserman & Marco Sarchiapone & Alan Apter & Judit A. Balazs & Julio Bobes & Romuald Brunner & Paul Corcoran & Doina Cosman & Christian Harin, 2016. "Pathological Internet Use and Risk-Behaviors among European Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-17, March.
    2. Daria J. Kuss & Mark D. Griffiths, 2011. "Online Social Networking and Addiction—A Review of the Psychological Literature," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 8(9), pages 1-25, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Hsien-Yuan Lane & Chin-Jui Chang & Chieh-Liang Huang & Yun-Hsuan Chang, 2021. "An Investigation into Smartphone Addiction with Personality and Sleep Quality among University Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-14, July.
    2. Jui-Kang Tsai & Wei-Hsin Lu & Ray C. Hsiao & Huei-Fan Hu & Cheng-Fang Yen, 2020. "Relationship between Difficulty in Emotion Regulation and Internet Addiction in College Students: A One-Year Prospective Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-11, July.
    3. Katarzyna Tomaszek & Agnieszka Muchacka-Cymerman, 2019. "Sex Differences in the Relationship between Student School Burnout and Problematic Internet Use among Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-14, October.
    4. Phoenix K. H. Mo & Juliet Honglei Chen & Joseph T. F. Lau & Anise M. S. Wu, 2020. "Internet-Related Addictions: From Measurements to Interventions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-4, April.

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