Personality Variables as Predictors of Facebook Usage

Abstract

This study investigates the role of personality factors as predictors of Facebook usage. Data concerning Facebook usage and personality factors from 654 Facebook users were gathered using a web survey. Using path analysis, the results showed Openness was a predictor of Facebook early adoption, Conscientiousness with sparing use, Extraversion with long sessions and abundant friendships, and Neuroticism with high frequency of sessions. The possible role of Agreeableness in predicting low session frequency and friendships needs further validation.

Subjective well-being and social media use: Do personality traits moderate the impact of social comparison on Facebook?

“…The positive correlations we found between Facebook intensity, Reward Interest, Reward Reactivity and Impulsivity were in line with our hypotheses and concur with findings from previous research on the FFM personality traits and frequency of Facebook use for individuals high in Openness to Experience, Extraversion, and low in Conscientiousness (Andreassen, Torsheim, Brunborg, & Pallesen, 2012;Caci et al, 2014;Correa et al, 2010;Ryan & Xenos, 2011). Research has found that people on both sides of the Extraversion scale demonstrate elevated SNS use; as those high in Extraversion use SNS for social enhancement, while those low in Extraversion use SNS for social compensation (Kuss & Griffiths, 2011).…”

“…Therefore, it is plausible that individuals low on Conscientiousness would display impulsive traits. Previous research on Facebook use has found that people who are high on Conscientiousness used Facebook less than those who are low on Conscientiousness (Caci et al, 2014;Ryan & Xenos, 2011). We therefore surmise that respondents who have high Impulsivity will use Facebook more intensively than those with low Impulsivity.…”

“…As the BAS may be the central quality of Extraversion (Depue & Collins, 1999;Lucas & Baird, 2004) and extraverts are more likely to be attentive to rewards (Steel et al, 2008), we propose that Reward Reactivity would be closest to the FFM trait of Extraversion. Studies on Facebook and FFM of personality have found that people high in Extraversion use social media more than people who are low in Extraversion (Caci, Cardaci, Tabacchi, & Scrima, 2014;Correa et al, 2010). As such, we predict that respondents high in Reward Reactivity will use Facebook more intensively than respondents low in Reward Reactivity.…”

“…As Goal-Drive Persistence is characterized by a high level of organization and goal-planning, it is the most similar to the FFM trait of high Conscientiousness. Studies which have investigated the FFM of personality and Facebook use have found that people with high Conscientiousness spend less time on Facebook than people who are low in Conscientiousness (Caci et al, 2014;Ryan & Xenos, 2011). However, GoalDrive Persistence is also characterized by a high level of persistence in general which is not accounted for in the FFM concept of high Conscientiousness.…”

Differential Influences of Depression and Personality Traits on the Use of Facebook

“…Moreover, Ryan and Xenos (2011) not only confirmed this finding but also came to the conclusion that neuroticism is positively correlated with the time spent on Facebook. Similarly, another study by Caci et al (2014) found neuroticism to be predictive for the frequency and duration of everyday Facebook use.…”