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8ԳԻՏԱԿԱՆ ԱՐՑԱԽ
SCIENTIFIC ARTSAKH
НАУЧНЫЙ АРЦАХ
№ 3 (22), 2024
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTION AND
PERSONALITY TRAITS AMONG ADOLESCENTS
UDC 159.9
DOI: 10.52063/25792652-2024.3.22-178
ARMINE ISKAJYAN
Khachatur Abovyan Armenian State Pedagogical University,
Chair of Applied Psychology, Ph.D. Student;
Yerevan Haybusak University, Lecturer of Medical Psychology,
Yerevan, the Republic of Armenia
ORCID: 0009-0005-9712-4775
The article examines the relationship between adolescent social media
addiction and personality traits. The research is highly relevant as social media is
an integral part of modern people's daily lives. Although the Internet has numerous
advantages, such as communication, information sharing, and access to
educational resources, excessive use can lead to addiction. In this regard,
teenagers are particularly vulnerable due to their developmental stage.
A total of 165 teenagers aged 12-17 participated in the research. Tests and
psychological interview methods were applied, and mathematical-statistical
analysis was performed by calculating the Pearson linear correlation coefficient.
The study found that social media addicts have higher levels of neuroticism
and openness to experience than non-addicts. However, those with social media
addiction had lower levels of extraversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness
than those without.
Thus, the research shows a strong correlation between social media
addiction and personality traits. The research has practical significance. The
results can be used for further research and the prevention of addiction to social
media.
Keywords: social media addiction, adolescence, neuroticism, openness to
experience, extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness.
Introduction
The internet has revolutionized the world in recent years, molding fresh
perspectives and embedding new stereotypes and attitudes, especially among young
people. It also impacts personal psychological traits like self-assurance, anxiety, and
mood fluctuations, which subsequently influence behavior (Ghazaryan 138-139). Social
media occupies an increasing amount of space in the daily lives of modern adolescents,
becoming an integral part of their everyday routines. Its role is continually expanding
alongside the rapid growth in the number of active users. As online interaction has
surpassed face-to-face communication for many adolescents, social media has begun to
significantly influence their lifestyles, communication, interests, and psychology.
Social media encompasses digital platforms and technologies enabling users to
create, share, and exchange information, ideas, and content within online communities
Հոդվածը ներկայացվել է 08.07.2024թ., գրախոսվել` 29.07.2024թ., տպագրության
ընդունվել` 31.10.2024թ.:
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like Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter. Primarily utilized for maintaining connections with
family and friends, it also serves as a source of entertainment. To understand the role of
social media, it can be categorized into two components. The first involves media
research, focusing on aspects like social presence and media richness. The second
component pertains to social processes such as self-presentation and self-disclosure.
Examples of contemporary social media platforms include content communities (e.g.,
YouTube), social networking sites (e.g., Facebook), and virtual gaming and social
communities (e.g., Reddit, World of Warcraft, etc.) (Fischer-Grote 1418-1424). Seeking
affirmation is a fundamental human trait, and social media provides a reward system
through likes, comments, shares, and followers that satisfies this need for validation and
affirmation (Kaplan 59-68).
Adolescence is considered the intermediate stage between childhood and
adulthood. It is the time when a young person must learn to become an adult. This is why
society sets developmental tasks before them. It's often said that it's hard for a teenager
to find their place in the world because they are already too grown-up for their previous
interests but still too young for adult activities. At the same time, they face the crisis of
adolescence — a time when relationships with close people are rebuilt, values are
reassessed, self-perception changes, and ideas about the future are formed.
Anna Freud noted that adolescents are excessively egoistic, regarding themselves
as the center of the universe and the sole object of interest, and yet at no time in later life
are they capable of so much self-sacrifice and devotion. They form the most passionate
love relationships, only to break them off as abruptly as they began them (Freud 137).
Thus, adolescents, in particular, are susceptible to developing social media
addiction due to their developmental stage, where peer influence and identity formation
play crucial roles. Consequently, there is a growing interest in understanding the link
between social media addiction and personality traits.
This research addresses the contemporary issue of social media addiction in the
digital age, providing insights into how these platforms influence adolescent psychology
and behavior. By exploring the relationship between personality traits and social media
use, we aim to contribute to the development of strategies and interventions that can help
mitigate the negative impacts of social media on young people.
Methods and Results
The research was carried out in three stages. In the first stage, we employed Dr.
Kimberly Young's Internet Addiction Test to evaluate the levels of internet addiction
among adolescents (Young 237–244). Next, psychological interviews were conducted to
explore why teenagers specifically use the internet and what aspects of it attract them,
potentially contributing to the formation of psychological addiction. In the second stage,
we utilized the Big Five Personality Test (NEO-FFI) by McCrae and Costa. This test
assesses personality traits based on five fundamental dimensions: openness to
experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism (McCrae,
Costa 587). In the third stage of the research, mathematical-statistical analysis was
conducted using the Pearson correlation coefficient (r) to measure the linear correlation
between social media addiction and personality traits (Edwards 33-46).
A total of 165 teenagers, aged 12-17, participated in the research: 90 girls and 75
boys. In the first stage of the research, using Yang's Internet Addiction Test, we found
that 65% of the 165 individuals (n=107) have internet addiction, while 35% (n=58) do not.
The following trend was observed: among 12-year-old girls, severe internet addiction was
not prevalent. However, addiction levels increased with age. By age 14, approximately
7% exhibited severe addiction, and this trend persisted among subsequent age groups—
15, 16, and 17—showing a steady rise in severe dependency. A similar trend was noted
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among boys. The significant levels of internet addiction observed among 16- and 17year-olds are particularly concerning. Specifically, among 16-year-old boys, 29% reported
mild addiction, 45% moderate addiction, and 17% severe addiction. For 17-year-olds, the
percentages were 30% mild, 46% moderate, and 13% severe.
Based on the psychological interview, it was discovered that teenagers are active
users of social networks. All participants are registered on various social platforms, often
on multiple ones simultaneously. Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube are the most
popular among teenagers.
After completing the first stage of our research, we identified two groups: 1) those
who have social media addiction—107 teenagers (58 girls and 49 boys), and 2) those
without social media addiction—58 teenagers (32 girls and 26 boys).
The Big Five Personality Test (NEO-FFI) by McCrae and Costa was used in the
second stage of the research.
The analysis of the Big Five test results for girls with social media addiction
highlights key trends in personality traits over time. Starting at 13% at age 12, the
percentage of girls exhibiting high neuroticism increases progressively, reaching 21% by
age 17. This steady rise in neuroticism indicates that as girls with social media addiction
age, they experience greater emotional instability and anxiety. Extraversion shows a
gradual decline from 28% at age 12 to 20% at age 17. This decrease in extraversion
implies that girls with social media addiction become less sociable and enthusiastic about
face-to-face interactions over time. Openness to Experience grows from 37% to 47%,
reflecting increased curiosity and engagement with online content. Agreeableness
decreases significantly from 22% to 14%, pointing to diminished empathy and
cooperativeness. Conscientiousness also falls sharply from 35% to 15%, indicating
struggles with self-discipline and organization. Overall, the analysis reveals that as girls
with social media addiction age, they exhibit increasing neuroticism, decreasing
extraversion, and growing openness to experience, alongside a decline in agreeableness
and conscientiousness (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Big Five (NEO-FFI) test results for girls with social media addiction
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For girls without social media addiction, the Big Five test results show notable
trends. Neuroticism starts at 6% at age 12 and increases gradually to 17% by age 17.
Extraversion, initially at 34%, rises steadily to 43%, reflecting growing sociability and
enthusiasm. Openness to Experience starts at 22% and rises to 34%, indicating a
moderate increase in curiosity and exploration. Agreeableness increases significantly
from 33% to 45%, showing enhanced empathy and cooperation. Conscientiousness
remains high, starting at 34% and reaching 43%, reflecting stable self-discipline and
organizational skills. These results indicate a positive development in personality traits,
with significant increases in extraversion and agreeableness, while neuroticism remains
low and stable (Figure 2).
Figure 2. Big Five (NEO-FFI) test results for girls without social media addiction
Comparing the Big Five test results for girls with and without social media addiction
highlights clear psychological differences. Girls with social media addiction show a
marked rise in neuroticism, indicating increasing emotional instability, while those without
addiction experience a more gradual, stable increase. Extraversion declines for girls with
addiction, suggesting a shift from face-to-face interactions to online communication,
whereas non-addicted girls maintain or increase their sociability. Openness to Experience
is notably higher among girls with addiction, reflecting their engagement with diverse
online content, while it remains stable in the non-addicted group, indicating a balanced
approach to new experiences. Agreeableness decreases for girls with addiction, pointing
to potential struggles with real-world relationships, whereas it increases for non-addicted
girls, highlighting their growing interpersonal skills. Finally, conscientiousness drops
among girls with social media addiction, likely due to the distraction and time demands of
social media, whereas it remains stable for those without addiction, indicating more
effective management of their responsibilities.
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№ 3 (22), 2024
Boys in the social media addiction group, similar to girls in the same group,
demonstrate high Openness to Experience, which steadily increases until the age of 17,
reaching 34%. However, neuroticism increases steadily from 15% at age 12 to 23% by
age 17, indicating growing emotional instability and anxiety as these boys age.
Extraversion declines consistently, dropping from 18% at age 12 to 14% at age 17,
suggesting a shift from active social engagement to a preference for online interactions.
Agreeableness decreases from 20% at age 12 to 15% at age 17, indicating reduced
empathy and difficulties in maintaining real-world relationships. Conscientiousness also
declines significantly, falling from 28% at age 12 to 13% at age 17, showing a reduction in
self-discipline and organizational skills, likely disrupted by the demands of social media
(Figure 3).
Figure 3. Big Five (NEO-FFI) test results for boys with social media addiction
Figure 4 illustrates the results of the Big Five (NEO-FFI) test for boys in the group
without social media addiction. Neuroticism increases from 8% at age 12 to 18% by age
17, indicating growing emotional instability. Extraversion rises significantly from 20% to
32%, suggesting a greater engagement in social interactions. Openness to Experience
grows modestly from 21% to 27%, reflecting a slight increase in curiosity. Agreeableness
improves from 25% to 35%, showing enhanced empathy. Conscientiousness also rises
from 28% to 33%, indicating better self-discipline. Overall, while emotional instability
increases, other traits like extraversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness also show
positive development (Figure 4).
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SCIENTIFIC ARTSAKH
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№ 3 (22), 2024
Figure 4․ Big Five (NEO-FFI) test results for boys without social media addiction
Comparing the Big Five personality traits between boys with and without social
media addiction (Figure 3, Figure 4) reveals several key psychological differences. Boys
with social media addiction show rising neuroticism, signaling increasing emotional
instability, and decreasing extraversion, suggesting less engagement in face-to-face
social interactions. Their openness to experience rises, suggesting deeper engagement
with online content, while agreeableness and conscientiousness decrease, pointing to
lower empathy and responsibility. In contrast, boys without social media addiction show
stable or gradual increases in neuroticism and extraversion, reflecting steady emotional
development and active social engagement. Their openness to experience remains
stable, and they demonstrate growing agreeableness and conscientiousness, indicating
improved social skills and responsibility.
Personality traits
Girls (r)
Boys (r)
Neuroticism
Extraversion
Openness to Experience
Agreeableness
Conscientiousness
0.98
-0.94
0.98
-0.97
0.96
-0.83
0.96
-0.92
-0.96
-0.91
Table 1: Correlation between social media addiction and 5 main personality traits
The mathematical-statistical analysis utilized the Pearson correlation coefficient (r)
to examine the linear relationship between social media addiction and personality traits.
The results reveal a strong positive correlation between social media addiction and
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НАУЧНЫЙ АРЦАХ
№ 3 (22), 2024
neuroticism (r >0.8), meaning higher addiction is linked to increased emotional instability.
Similarly, social media addiction strongly correlates with Openness to Experience (r>0.8),
suggesting it enhances curiosity and engagement with novel content. Conversely, social
media addiction negatively correlates with extraversion, agreeableness, and
conscientiousness. As addiction increases, individuals become less socially active,
struggle with maintaining positive relationships, and face difficulties in managing
responsibilities due to the demands of social media (table 1).
Discussion
This study provides significant insights into the relationship between adolescent
social media addiction and personality traits, emphasizing the importance of
understanding this connection due to the pervasive nature of social media in the lives of
young people. Given the rapid rise in social media usage and its profound impact on daily
life, particularly among teenagers, this research is both timely and relevant.
The findings of this study were largely consistent with previous research.
Understanding why some people are addicted to social media while others are not can
shed light on the role of personality and usage patterns. This study offers valuable
insights into how personality traits and individual differences affect social media addiction
(Maylaf 269; Piko 367; Amichai-Hamburger 1289). Our findings reveal that adolescents
who are addicted to social media exhibit higher levels of neuroticism and openness to
experience compared to their non-addicted peers. Conversely, those with social media
addiction display lower levels of extraversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness.
This indicates a reduced engagement in face-to-face social interactions, and challenges
with self-discipline.
In our future research, we will investigate how social media addiction develops and
affects personality over time. We will also evaluate the effectiveness of various
interventions to create effective prevention strategies.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the study delves into the connection between social media addiction
and personality traits among adolescents, examining how traits such as neuroticism,
openness to experience, extraversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness impact
susceptibility to social media addiction. The research has highlighted several critical
points:
• A strong positive correlation exists between social media addiction and
neuroticism, suggesting that individuals prone to anxiety and emotional instability
may use social media as a coping mechanism.
• There is a significant association between social media addiction and openness
to experience, indicating that adolescents with a curiosity for new experiences
may be particularly drawn to the interactive features of social platforms.
• Conversely, social media addiction shows negative correlations with extraversion,
agreeableness, and conscientiousness. This suggests that adolescents
characterized by sociability, empathy, and self-discipline tend to exhibit lower
levels of addiction.
• Overall, the findings underscore how specific personality traits influence
susceptibility to social media addiction among adolescents. Neuroticism and
openness to experience may heighten vulnerability, whereas extraversion,
agreeableness, and conscientiousness may act as protective factors.
The study's originality lies in its detailed, age- and gender-sensitive exploration of
social media addiction, offering new insights into how personality traits influence this
modern phenomenon among adolescents. Before this study, there was a notable gap in
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research specifically addressing the relationship between personality traits and social
media addiction within this age group. By focusing exclusively on adolescents, this
research fills that gap, offering fresh perspectives and empirical evidence that were
previously missing. Its findings not only enhance our understanding of adolescent
psychology in the context of social media but also lay a foundation for future studies to
build upon.
These insights provide valuable guidance for educators, parents, and mental
health professionals in developing targeted interventions to promote healthy online
behaviors tailored to individual personality traits associated with addiction risks.
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WORKS CITED
1. Ghazaryan Lowsine. Eritasardut'yan virtual shp'man social-hogebanakan
ar'and'nahatkut'yunnery' ev drsevorman mitumnery', Gitakan Artsakh, [SocioPsychological Characteristics and Trends in Youth Virtual Communication Scientific
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185
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НАУЧНЫЙ АРЦАХ
№ 3 (22), 2024
ՍՈՑԻԱԼԱԿԱՆ ՑԱՆՑԵՐԻՑ ԿԱԽՎԱԾՈՒԹՅԱՆ ԵՎ ԱՆՁՆԱՅԻՆ ԳԾԵՐԻ
ՓՈԽՀԱՐԱԲԵՐԱԿՑՈՒԹՅՈՒՆԸ ԴԵՌԱՀԱՍՆԵՐԻ ՇՐՋԱՆՈՒՄ
ԱՐՄԻՆԵ ԻՍԿԱՋՅԱՆ
Խ. Աբովյանի անվան հայկական պետական մանկավարժական համալսարանի
կիրառական հոգեբանության ամբիոնի հայցորդ,
Երևանի Հայբուսակ համալսարանի բժշկական հոգեբանության դասախոս,
ք. Երևան, Հայաստանի Հանրապետություն
Հոդվածն ուսումնասիրում է դեռահասների՝ սոցիալական ցանցերից
կախվածության և անձային գծերի փոխհարաբերակցությունը: Հետազոտությունը
խիստ արդիական է, քանի որ սոցիալական ցանցերը ժամանակակից մարդու առօրյա
կյանքի անբաժան մասն են։ Թեև համացանցն ունի մի շարք առավելություններ,
ինչպիսիք են՝ հեռահաղորդակցությունը, տեղեկատվության ստացումն ու
տարածումը, կրթական ռեսուրսներին հասանելիությունը, սակայն համացանցի՝
չափից շատ կիրառումը կարող է հանգեցնել կախվածության ձևավորման։ Այս
առումով հատկապես խոցելի են դեռահասները՝ պայմանավորված տարիքային
առանձնահատկություններով։
Հետազոտությանը մասնակցել են 12-17 տարեկան 165 դեռահասներ։ Կիրառվել
է թեստերի, հոգեբանական զրույցի մեթոդները, կատարվել է մաթեմատիկականվիճակագրական վերլուծություն Պիրոսոնի գծային համահարաբերակցության
գործարկցի հաշվարկման միջոցով։
Հետազոտության արդյունքում պարզվեց, որ սոցիալական ցանցերից
կախվածություն ունեցողները, ի տարբերություն կախվածություն չունեցողների,
ունեն ավելի բարձր նևրոտիզմ և լայնախոսություն: Սակայն սոցիալական ցանցերից
կախվածություն ունեցողներն ունեն էքստրավերտության, բարյացակամության և
բարեխղճության ավելի ցածր մակարդակ, քան չունեցողները:
Այսպիսով՝ հետազոտությունը ցույց է տալիս, որ առկա է խիստ
փոխհարաբերակցություն սոցիալական ցանցերից կախվածության և անձնային
գծերի միջև։
Հետազոտությունն ունի կիրառական նշանակություն։ Ուսումնասիրության
արդյունքները կարող են օգտագործվել սոցիալական ցանցերից կախվածության
հետագա ուսումնասիրությունների և կանխարգելման նպատակով։
Հիմնաբառեր` սոցիալական ցաներից կախվածություն, դեռահասություն,
նևրոտիզմ,
էքստրավերտություն,
լայնախոհություն,
բարյացակամություն,
բարեխղճություն:
186
ԳԻՏԱԿԱՆ ԱՐՑԱԽ
SCIENTIFIC ARTSAKH
НАУЧНЫЙ АРЦАХ
№ 3 (22), 2024
ВЗАИМОСВЯЗЬ ЗАВИСИМОСТИ ОТ СОЦИАЛЬНЫХ СЕТЕЙ И
ХАРАКТЕРИСТИК ЛИЧНОСТИ У ПОДРОСТКОВ
АРМИНЕ ИСКАДЖЯН
соискатель кафедры прикладной психологии
Армянского государственного педагогического университета им. Х. Абовяна,
преподаватель медицинской психологии
Ереванского университета Айбусак,
г. Ереван, Республика Армения
Статья исследует взаимосвязь между зависимостью подростков от
социальных сетей и их личностными чертами. Исследование является весьма
актуальным, поскольку социальные сети стали неотъемлемой частью повседневной
жизни современных людей. Несмотря на многочисленные преимущества
интернета, такие, как коммуникация, обмен информацией и доступ к
образовательным ресурсам, их чрезмерное использование может привести к
зависимости. В этом контексте подростки особенно уязвимы из-за своих возрастных
особенностей.
В исследовании приняли участие 165 подростков в возрасте от 12 до 17 лет.
Были применены методы тестирования и психологических интервью, а также
проведен математико-статистический анализ с расчетом линейного коэффициента
корреляции Пирсона.
Исследование показало, что у зависимых от социальных сетей подростков
более высокие уровни невротизма и открытости к новому опыту по сравнению с не
зависящими от соцсетей. Однако у тех, кто зависим от социальных сетей, уровни
экстраверсии, доброжелательности и добросовестности были ниже, чем у тех, кто
не имеет зависимости.
Таким образом, исследование демонстрирует сильную корреляцию между
зависимостью от социальных сетей и личностными характеристиками.
Исследование имеет практическую значимость, поскольку его результаты могут
быть использованы для проведения дальнейших исследований и разработки
профилактических мер по борьбе с зависимостью от социальных сетей.
Ключевые слова: зависимость от социальных сетей, подростковый
возраст, невротизм, открытость, экстраверсия, доброжелательность,
добросовестность.
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