Üniversite Öğrencilerinde Dışadönüklük, Sosyal Ağları Kullanma Sıklığı ve Cinsiyetin Problemli Sosyal Ağ Kullanımına Etkisinin İncelenmesi
Ahmet KesiciExamining the Effect of Extraversion, Frequency of Social Networks Use, and Gender on Problematic Use of Social Network among University Students
Ahmet KesiciSocial networks are today used widely by university students. Overuse of social networks results in social, psychological, and mental problems. This trouble is defined as problematic use of social network. Problematic use of social network is related to a person’s failure at self-control over the impulse to join social networks and to resist the impulse to join social networks. The present study was carried out in order to examine the effect of extraversion, frequency of social network use, and gender on problematic use of social network among university students.
Method
Participants
The data for this study were composed of 258 persons studying at a state university in the spring term of 2017-2018 academic years. The data was collected from the students of various faculties so as to ensure the variety of data.
Measures
Scale for Problematic Use of Social Network. In the research, the students’ level of problematic use of social network was determined by the Scale for Problematic Use of Social Network (SPUSN). SPUSN was developed by adapting the items of the Game Addiction Scale, which was introduced by Lemmens, Valkenburg and Peter (2009) to establish internet gaming disorders and translated into Turkish by Irmak and Erdoğan (2015), to social network use. SPUSN is seven-item, one dimensional, and five-point Likert type. The scale explains 50.32% of variance. Cronbach’s Alpha internal consistency coefficient of the scale is .79.
Extraversion Sub-Dimension of the Big Five Inventory. In the research, the extraversion of students was identified by 8-item extraversion sub-dimension of 44-item The Big Five Inventory developed by Benet-Martinez and John in 1998 under the title of The Big Five Inventory. The scale is a five-point Likert type. The Big Five Inventory was adapted into Turkish within the study to determine the self-identification profiles of people in 56 countries (Schmitt, Allik, McCrae, & Benet-Martinez, 2007). In the present research study, the Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient of extraversion sub-dimension was calculated as .76.
The Scale for Frequency of Social Network Use. In the research study, the students’ frequency of social network use was established through The Scale for Frequency of Social Network Use developed by the researcher. The scale is five-point Likert type and onedimensional. It explicates 32.77% of variance. Cronbach’s Alpha internal consistency coefficient of the scale was calculated as .77.
Results
Regarding the multiple linear regression analysis, the model comprising of extraversion, frequency of social network use, and gender explains significantly 6.4% of problematic use of social network. Accordingly, the frequency of social network use is expectedly a significant predictor for problematic use of social network. It was revealed that extraversion and gender are not significant predictors for problematic use of social network. The regression equation obtained from the multiple regression analysis is such that: Problematic Use of Social Network=1.54 + (.31) x Frequency of Social Network Use - (.04) x Extraversion + (.03) x Gender (1=Male; 0=Female)
Discussion
Extravert students are social, lively, cheerful, dominant, assertive, and interested in others (Aydoğmuş, 2011; Costa & McCrae, 1995; Tatlılıoğlu, 2014). It can be claimed that these traits lead social people to prefer face to face interactions to virtual ones. Therefore, it can be stated that extrovert personality traits impedes problematic use of social networks. In the research, it was found that gender is not a significant predictor for problematic use of social networks. It is speculated that this state springs from the fact that social network use is intermittently sustainable in contrast to internet games, and responsibilities of university students is similar with regard to gender. Thus, problematic use of digital devices should be individually investigated based on digital device and application.
It was discovered in the research that there is positive, slight, and statistically significant correlation between extraversion and frequency of social network use. This result is striking because no significant association was established between extraversion and problematic use of social networks. This situation can be elucidated by the sensitivity of social students to others (Aydoğmuş, 2011; Costa & McCrae, 1995; Tatlılıoğlu, 2014). Accordingly, social individuals use social networks more frequently due to their fear of missing what is going on around them. Furthermore, this situation can be explained by moral panic. Moral panic is defined as the social reaction to any person, event, and situation which is against common values and interests (Akdemir, 2016; Macintosh, 2008; Marwick, 2008; McRobbie & Thorntom, 1995; Yıldız & Sümer, 2010). Moral panic reactions arising over nationalism, violence to woman, child abuse, and other issues may be another reason for students to use social networks more frequently. This topic should be investigated by different models to explain problematic use of social network based on the findings of the present study. Moreover, students should be informed about the harms resulting from overuse of social networks. It can be claimed that what harms emanate from problematic use of social networks within the context of right use of digital devices should be inserted into pre-university curriculum.