Rexlin. I and Yuvaraj. T
Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India
Pages: 102-112
Internet addiction has become an emerging public health concern among adolescents
due to increasing digital technology use. Personality traits are considered important
psychological factors that may influence adolescents’ susceptibility to internet addiction.
This study examined the relationship between personality traits and internet addiction
among adolescents and identified personality predictors of internet addiction. A cross
sectional correlational study was conducted among 382 adolescents aged 16–19 years
from schools and colleges in Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu, India. Participants
completed the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) and the IPIP-NEO-120 Personality Inventory.
Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, multiple linear
regression, independent samples t-test, and one-way ANOVA. The mean internet
addiction score was 43.5 ± 17.7, indicating a mild level of internet addiction among the
study participants. Internet addiction was positively correlated with Neuroticism (r =
.237, p < .001) and negatively correlated with Agreeableness (r = -.216, p < .001) and
Conscientiousness (r = -.302, p < .001), whereas Extraversion (r = .030, p = .558) and
Openness to Experience (r = -.058, p = .258) were not significantly associated with
internet addiction. Multiple linear regression revealed that personality traits significantly
predicted internet addiction (R = .382, R² = .146, F(3,378) = 21.60, p < .001). Neuroticism
emerged as a significant positive predictor (β = .166, p = .001), while Agreeableness (β
= -.189, p < .001) and Conscientiousness (β = -.218, p < .001) were significant negative
predictors. Male adolescents reported a significantly higher level of tendency towards
internet addiction than females (t(380) = 6.21, p < .001). No significant difference was
observed between school-going and college-going adolescents (t(385) = -0.856,
p=0.392). Hours of internet use per day showed a positive correlation with internet
addiction (r = .197, p < .001), and internet addiction differed significantly according to
the primary purpose of internet use (Welch’s F(4,54.0) = 10.70, p < .001). Neuroticism
increases adolescents’ vulnerability to internet addiction, whereas Agreeableness and
Conscientiousness appear to serve as protective factors. The findings suggest that
identifying personality traits associated with Internet Addiction may facilitate early
detection of adolescents who are vulnerable and support the development of preventive
interventions.