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.
Highlights
The Internet was developed in the early 1970s [1] and has gradually become much more common and popular
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
Summary
The Internet was developed in the early 1970s [1] and has gradually become much more common and popular. Problems with Internet addiction (IA) have started to raise concerns, and IA has been introduced as a new clinical disorder [2,3]. Previous studies have indicated that maladaptive patterns of Internet use constitute addictive behavior, and Internet use on school campuses and in society in general has increased in recent years. An etiopathogenetic model was suggested for the effect of unbalanced emotional regulation in developing internet addiction [4]. The Internet plays an important role in interpersonal communication and connections, as well as receiving. Res. Public Health 2019, 16, 3537; doi:10.3390/ijerph16193537 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
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