Neuroticism in the digital age: A meta-analysis
The pervasiveness of the Internet has raised concern about its (problematic) use and the potentially negative impact on people's health. Neuroticism has been identified as one potential risk factor of Internet and other online addictions. To obtain a comprehensive quantitative synthesis of the...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2020-08-01
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| Series: | Computers in Human Behavior Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2451958820300269 |
| _version_ | 1818722141301899264 |
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| author | Laura Marciano Anne-Linda Camerini Peter J. Schulz |
| author_facet | Laura Marciano Anne-Linda Camerini Peter J. Schulz |
| author_sort | Laura Marciano |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The pervasiveness of the Internet has raised concern about its (problematic) use and the potentially negative impact on people's health. Neuroticism has been identified as one potential risk factor of Internet and other online addictions. To obtain a comprehensive quantitative synthesis of the association of neuroticism and both overall and problematic Internet activities, a meta-analysis was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. A comprehensive search was carried out in nine academic databases. After a stepwise screening procedure, 159 studies were eventually included: 104 studies in the meta-analysis on neuroticism and Internet activities and 64 studies in the meta-analysis on neuroticism and problematic Internet activities, comprising Internet, social media, Facebook, smartphone, and online gaming addiction (9 studies considered both aspects). When it comes to overall Internet activities, effect sizes were generally small and frequently non-significant, with some exceptions (e.g., expression of real me). For problematic Internet activities, a completely different picture emerged: high levels of neuroticism significantly correlated with all measures of problematic Internet activities, with medium size correlations. The differential results for Internet activities in general and problematic Internet activities can be related to problems in the conceptualization and assessment of the latter. More research is needed to overcome current conceptual and methodological issues and investigate the real nature of problematic Internet activities and to be eventually able to evaluate if neurotic people are really an at-risk population. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T20:49:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1e3607735efb4570812f6c5a94620630 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2451-9588 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T20:49:54Z |
| publishDate | 2020-08-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Computers in Human Behavior Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-1e3607735efb4570812f6c5a946206302022-12-21T21:33:03ZengElsevierComputers in Human Behavior Reports2451-95882020-08-012100026Neuroticism in the digital age: A meta-analysisLaura Marciano0Anne-Linda Camerini1Peter J. Schulz2Corresponding author.; Institute of Communication and Health, Faculty of Communication Sciences, Università Della Svizzera Italiana, Via Giuseppe Buffi 13, 6900, Lugano, SwitzerlandInstitute of Communication and Health, Faculty of Communication Sciences, Università Della Svizzera Italiana, Via Giuseppe Buffi 13, 6900, Lugano, SwitzerlandInstitute of Communication and Health, Faculty of Communication Sciences, Università Della Svizzera Italiana, Via Giuseppe Buffi 13, 6900, Lugano, SwitzerlandThe pervasiveness of the Internet has raised concern about its (problematic) use and the potentially negative impact on people's health. Neuroticism has been identified as one potential risk factor of Internet and other online addictions. To obtain a comprehensive quantitative synthesis of the association of neuroticism and both overall and problematic Internet activities, a meta-analysis was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. A comprehensive search was carried out in nine academic databases. After a stepwise screening procedure, 159 studies were eventually included: 104 studies in the meta-analysis on neuroticism and Internet activities and 64 studies in the meta-analysis on neuroticism and problematic Internet activities, comprising Internet, social media, Facebook, smartphone, and online gaming addiction (9 studies considered both aspects). When it comes to overall Internet activities, effect sizes were generally small and frequently non-significant, with some exceptions (e.g., expression of real me). For problematic Internet activities, a completely different picture emerged: high levels of neuroticism significantly correlated with all measures of problematic Internet activities, with medium size correlations. The differential results for Internet activities in general and problematic Internet activities can be related to problems in the conceptualization and assessment of the latter. More research is needed to overcome current conceptual and methodological issues and investigate the real nature of problematic Internet activities and to be eventually able to evaluate if neurotic people are really an at-risk population.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2451958820300269Internet activitiesProblematic internet activitiesPersonalityNeuroticismMeta-analysisInternet addiction |
| spellingShingle | Laura Marciano Anne-Linda Camerini Peter J. Schulz Neuroticism in the digital age: A meta-analysis Computers in Human Behavior Reports Internet activities Problematic internet activities Personality Neuroticism Meta-analysis Internet addiction |
| title | Neuroticism in the digital age: A meta-analysis |
| title_full | Neuroticism in the digital age: A meta-analysis |
| title_fullStr | Neuroticism in the digital age: A meta-analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Neuroticism in the digital age: A meta-analysis |
| title_short | Neuroticism in the digital age: A meta-analysis |
| title_sort | neuroticism in the digital age a meta analysis |
| topic | Internet activities Problematic internet activities Personality Neuroticism Meta-analysis Internet addiction |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2451958820300269 |
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