Examining the effect of personality traits on internet addiction with an emphasis on the tendency to use the internet (Semnan University case study)

MBA Management Master's Thesis

Abstract

The present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the relationship between five-factor personality style, internet addiction and the desire to use the internet, and Semnan University was chosen as a study for this purpose. The research method is descriptive (non-experimental) and survey type, and using the obtained data, it examines possible relationships between the five dimensions of personality as an independent variable, Internet addiction as a dependent variable, and the willingness to use the Internet as a mediating variable. All the students of Semnan University are included in the statistics. Random quota sampling method is used and the sample size is determined using Cochran's formula. Three questionnaires were used to conduct this research. To evaluate five personality factors (extroversion, neuroticism, openness to experience, adaptability and conscientiousness), the five-factor questionnaire of Neo personality traits (60 items) was used, and to measure Internet addiction, Yang's (1998) questionnaire was used, and to determine the tendency to use the Internet, Slanbay's (2008) questionnaire was used. All three questionnaires are standard, and again their validity was confirmed by the opinions of respected professors and experts, and their reliability was obtained using Cronbach's alpha criterion. Data analysis was done in SPSS and Lisrel software by applying structural equation model tests and confirmatory factor analysis, according to research assumptions. The findings of the confirmatory factor analysis showed that the five personality factors were confirmed for the appropriateness of personality measurement, and the components of the tendency to use the Internet were confirmed in determining the tendency to use the Internet, and the indicators of Internet addiction were also confirmed in the sample. The results of the path analysis showed that there is a significant relationship between personality traits and Internet addiction and between Internet addiction and the tendency to use the Internet, but the existence of a significant relationship between personality characteristics and the tendency to use the Internet was not confirmed. Internet-University

Chapter One

Research Overview

1-1- Introduction

The Internet is a combination of resources and technology that is expected to be considered as infrastructure and facilities to serve. There is a wide dependence on the Internet for various and daily activities including communication, business cooperation, business transactions, entertainment and education, and the use of non- Responsibly, this source of communication is considered a great threat to society (Sohrabi and Khanleri, 2018). Electronic revolution, information explosion and computer revolution have brought many quantitative and qualitative differences in the world compared to two decades ago. Before the Internet became available to the public (before 1990), it was mostly used as a means of confidential correspondence to achieve relationships. Then it grew widely and became an essential tool in our lives (Yung, 1998).

Evan Goldberg[1], a psychiatrist from Columbia University, first proposed the disorder of Internet addiction in July 1995 and coined the term Internet addiction and recorded its diagnostic criteria (Gonzalez, 2008). 22% have reported. Also, Internet addiction has been associated with social phobia and attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity, bipolar disorder, problems in interpersonal relationships, anxiety and impulse disorder, suicide and aggression, depression, high arousal. On the other hand, some studies have considered the chances of gender, age, unemployment and marriage to be effective by examining the characteristics of demo graphics as predictive variables of Internet addiction. Another variable that some studies have examined in connection with Internet addiction is the personality characteristics of users, such as shyness, impulsiveness, loneliness, anxiety, depression, neurotic traits (anxiety, anger and resentment, depressed mood, shame, impulsivity, vulnerability to stress), violence and aggression, introverted personality style, low self-esteem, unstable emotions and fantasy, seeking novelty, avoiding harm and reducing dependence on rewards, extroversion. Orientation and openness are effective (Wildt and Pautzink [2], 2007). In recent years, much attention has been paid to the potential relationship between personality traits and internet addiction.Since these characteristics form the basis of people's behavioral system, paying attention to this category can clarify certain aspects of people's performance.

The general purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of Internet addiction on personality characteristics with an emphasis on the willingness to use the Internet among Semnan University students.

1-2- Definition of the topic and statement of the problem

In general, Internet addiction can be defined as "a type of Internet use that can cause problems" create a psychological, social, educational, or occupational problem in a person's life," he defined (Gonzales [3], 2008).

Internet addiction or behavioral dependence on the Internet, regardless of whether we consider it a disease or a mental injury or a social problem, is a chronic, pervasive and recurrent phenomenon that is associated with serious physical, financial, family, social and psychological harm. The most common term is "Internet addiction", which creates a kind of behavioral dependence on the Internet. The American Psychiatric Association has defined internet addiction as a pattern of internet use that causes functional impairment and is associated with unpleasant internal states within a two-month period, and has provided seven criteria for its diagnosis. (at least three criteria during two months) tolerance, withdrawal symptoms, time spent using the Internet longer than the person initially intended, persistent desire to control behavior, significant time spent on Internet-related matters, reduction in social, occupational, and recreational activities due to Internet use, continued use despite being aware of its negative effects (Patrick, 2008).

Internet addiction is a new phenomenon that many general practitioners are unaware of. It seems that the root of this practice is to escape from personal problems. The variety of different parts of the Internet provides an opportunity to escape from emotional problems such as: depression, stress, anxiety or communication problems with others (Greenfield, 2004). Dealing with Internet addiction is as difficult as any other addiction. Internet addiction, heroin, smoking, alcohol, and all types of addiction have similar basic components, and quitting any addiction is not easy or painless (Orman, 2003).

Holmes believes in his definition of Internet addiction: A person who uses the Internet for more than 19 hours a week is an Internet addict. (Jin Heck and Jay Yee, 2006) researches conducted in the field of Internet addiction report conflicting results. (Cao et al. [4], 2007; Yellolis et al. [5], 2005; Li Shang [6], 2006) point out that excessive and pathological use of the Internet reduces students' mental health. Internet addiction is a global phenomenon with a different level and range from 5 to 25 percent of the student population of America, China, Korea, England, Australia, Taiwan, Japan, Eastern and Western European countries (Li Shang; 2006). (Amichai Hamburger and Ben Artzi [7], 2003) showed that students who are extremely dependent on the Internet feel lonely in terms of mental health. Studies show that university students who are addicted to the Internet do not have the necessary skills in social relations and have less psychological and social well-being. The research conducted by Nademi and Saeedi Rizvani (2015) about the use of the Internet and its psychological and social consequences shows that there is a significant negative relationship between extroversion and psychosis with the use of the Internet.

One of the variables that can be related to Internet addiction is the character trait that plays a decisive role on the obvious and obvious behavior of a person. differentiates from other people (Brahani, Birshak 1377; Siasi 1371; Hal Velindzi Krisni, 1999). Character is derived from the Latin word persona[8], which refers to the mask that the artists put on their faces in the show. Personality can be defined as a durable and unique set of characteristics that may change in different situations. Sheldon states in his definition: personality is the dynamic organization of a person's intellectual, emotional, motivational and physiological aspects (Jane Heck and Jay, Yee 2006).

Connell's definition of personality is that which makes it possible to predict what a person will do in a given situation. He believed that personality consists of traits or factors that can be obtained through factor analysis method (Hardy, 2007).