Normal and Maladaptive Personality Traits as Predictors of Motives for Social Media Use and Its Effects on Well-Being

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the motives for social media sites use in the general population and determine what personality traits (normal and maladaptive) predict different motives for social media sites use. Another objective was to analyze which motives for SMSs use are related to well-being. The sample consisted of 420 subjects (211 men, 209 women), mean age 40.29 years ( SD = 14.93). Data were gathered using the Big Five Inventory, the Personality Inventory for DSM-5-Brief Form -Adult, the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form, and a scale designed ad hoc to evaluate the motives for social media sites use. The results showed that the most frequent motives were Personal relationship maintenance/Search for information, Pastime/Exhibitionism, and Search for companionship. In addition, it was found that normal and, especially, maladaptive personality traits increased the explained variance for the three motives for social media sites use, beyond age and gender. Predictors of relationship initiation and pastime/exhibitionism motives were related to more negative features (e.g., antagonism and disinhibition) than predictors of personal relationship maintenance/search for information. Finally, personal relationship maintenance/search for information was positively related to all the components of well-being, while the other motives for social media sites use were negatively associated with well-being.

Internet Addiction among Young Adult University Students: The Complex Interplay between Family Functioning, Impulsivity, Depression, and Anxiety

“…From a developmental point of view, young adults have to undertake a series of evolutionary tasks to make a successful transition to adulthood (e.g., the redefinition of relationships with family, peer groups, and society; the assumption of identity, autonomy, and intimacy), and some authors have posited that internet use could help these young adults to face these important challenges [6][7][8][9]. Despite the above benefits, there is evidence that some young adults, especially university students, tend to make problematic use of the internet [10][11][12] or are even addicted to the use of the worldwide web [13].…”

Examining the Direction of Effects Between COVID-19 Experiences, General Well-Being, Social Media Engagement, and Insomnia Symptoms Among University Students

“…While socioemotional motives for social media use may be wellintentioned, it is unclear whether these motives facilitate specific online behaviors that effectively promote well-being (Jarman et al, 2021). Overall, findings from studies examining the link between motives for social media use and psychological well-being have been mixed (Perugini & Solano, 2021;Schivinski et al, 2020). Within the field, there is a lack of theoretical models and empirical evidence on the mechanisms that explain dynamic relationships between motives for social media use and psychological well-being.…”

O Normal Está Relacionado a Uma Percepção Individual De Acordo Com a Personalidade

“…Demonstrando que os traços de personalidade normais e mal adaptativos, são demonstrados perante ao sexo e a idade. Os indivíduos com personalidade de comportamentos mal adaptativos demonstram motivos do uso das redes sociais como passatempo e exibicionismo, diferentes dos considerados normais que estão nas redes por relacionamento pessoal e busca de informações (Perugini et. al., 2021) O objetivo do estudo de Cicero, et.…”