The Relationship Between Personality Traits, Psychopathological Symptoms, and Problematic Internet Use: A Complex Mediation Model.

Beatrix Koronczai,Gyöngyi Kökönyei,Zsolt Demetrovics,Mark D Griffiths

doi:10.2196/11837

Beatrix Koronczai, Gyöngyi Kökönyei + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.2196/11837

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Abstract

BackgroundThere are many empirical studies that demonstrate the associations between problematic internet use, psychopathological symptoms, and personality traits. However, complex models are scarce.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to build and test a mediation model based on problematic internet use, psychopathological symptoms, and personality traits.MethodsData were collected from a medical addiction center (43 internet addicts) and internet cafés (222 customers) in Beijing (mean age 22.45, SD 4.96 years; 239/265, 90.2% males). Path analysis was applied to test the mediation models using structural equation modeling.ResultsBased on the preliminary analyses (correlations and linear regression), two different models were built. In the first model, low conscientiousness and depression had a direct significant influence on problematic internet use. The indirect effect of conscientiousness—via depression—was nonsignificant. Emotional stability only affected problematic internet use indirectly, via depressive symptoms. In the second model, low conscientiousness also had a direct influence on problematic internet use, whereas the indirect path via the Global Severity Index was again nonsignificant. Emotional stability impacted problematic internet use indirectly via the Global Severity Index, whereas it had no direct effect on it, as in the first model.ConclusionsPersonality traits (ie, conscientiousness as a protective factor and neuroticism as a risk factor) play a significant role in problematic internet use, both directly and indirectly (via distress level).

Highlights

Most empirical studies to date have found a positive association between problematic internet use and psychopathological symptoms in normal samples of both adolescents [1,2,3,4,5] and adults [6,7,8,9,10,11]
The goodness-of-fit indexes of the mediation model were appropriate (χ214=14.5, P=.28; comparative fit index (CFI)=0.995, Tucker-Lewis index (TLI)=0.991, root mean square error approximation (RMSEA)=0.026, 90% CI 0.000-0.068, Closeness of model fit (CFit)=0.792)
The goodness-of-fit indexes of the second mediation model were good (χ211=16.2, P=.13; CFI=0.985, TLI=0.975, RMSEA=0.042, 90% CI: 0.000-0.083)

Summary

Introduction

Most empirical studies to date have found a positive association between problematic internet use and psychopathological symptoms in normal samples of both adolescents [1,2,3,4,5] and adults [6,7,8,9,10,11]. Depressive [1,14,10,12,13,5,15] and obsessive-compulsive symptoms [8,1,9,14,13,4,15] have been found to be the most significant predictors of problematic internet use. Objective: The aim of this study was to build and test a mediation model based on problematic internet use, psychopathological symptoms, and personality traits. Low conscientiousness and depression had a direct significant influence on problematic internet use. Low conscientiousness had a direct influence on problematic internet use, whereas the indirect path via the Global Severity Index was again nonsignificant. Emotional stability impacted problematic internet use indirectly via the Global Severity Index, whereas it had no direct effect on it, as in the first model. Conclusions: Personality traits (ie, conscientiousness as a protective factor and neuroticism as a risk factor) play a significant role in problematic internet use, both directly and indirectly (via distress level)

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Conclusion