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Personality Traits and Internet Addiction among Adolescent Students: The Moderating Role of Family Functioning

Author

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  • Ifeoma Juliet Nwufo

    (Department of Psychology, Faculty of the Social Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria)

  • Obinna Osita Ike

    (Department of Psychology, Faculty of the Social Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria)

Abstract

Objectives: Internet addiction is a behavioral addiction characterized by excessive and compulsive use of the internet. The risk of internet addiction among adolescents has risen recently due to an increase in technological advancement and globalization. However, previous studies have focused on the precipitating factors triggering the internet addiction without looking at the exogenous factors and boundary conditions, such as family functioning, that can either sustain or weaken such behavior. Thus, the present study aimed to examine the moderating role of family functioning in the relationship between personality traits and internet addiction among adolescents. Methods: This study is a cross-sectional study consisting of 3150 adolescent students in the grade/class level of JSS1-SS3 who were assessed with standardized measures of the Big-Five Personality Inventory, Internet Addictive Test, and Family APGAR Index. Pearson correlation was used to explore the bivariate relationships between the demographic variable and other variables of interest, while Hayes regression-based PROCESS macro for SPSS was used to test the Hypotheses. Results: (1) Openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, and neuroticism positively correlated with internet addiction, whereas agreeableness was negatively associated with internet addiction. (2) Positive family functioning correlated negatively with internet addiction. (3) Positive family functioning moderated the relationships of extraversion and agreeableness with internet addiction but not on openness to experience, conscientiousness, and neuroticism with internet addiction. Conclusions: Positive family functioning correlated negatively with internet addiction among adolescents, suggesting that improving family functioning would be a valuable tactic for reducing adolescents’ susceptibility to personality-related internet addiction.

Suggested Citation

  • Ifeoma Juliet Nwufo & Obinna Osita Ike, 2024. "Personality Traits and Internet Addiction among Adolescent Students: The Moderating Role of Family Functioning," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(5), pages 1-14, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:21:y:2024:i:5:p:520-:d:1381012
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kamer Gür & Seher Yurt & Serap Bulduk & Sinem Atagöz, 2015. "Internet addiction and physical and psychosocial behavior problems among rural secondary school students," Nursing & Health Sciences, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 17(3), pages 331-338, September.
    2. Hsiao-Ching Chen & Jiun-Yi Wang & Ying-Lien Lin & Shang-Yu Yang, 2020. "Association of Internet Addiction with Family Functionality, Depression, Self-Efficacy and Self-Esteem among Early Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-13, November.
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