Cited by 90Impact of Technology on AdolescentsPersonality Traits and PsychologySexuality, Behavior, and Technology

Predicting tendencies towards the disordered use of Facebook’s social media platforms: On the role of personality, impulsivity, and social anxiety

Sindermann, Cornelia, Elhai, Jon D., Montag, Christian·2020·Psychiatry Research

Abstract

The present study aimed at investigating personality underpinnings of Social Networks Use Disorder. Instead of focusing on social media in broad or on a single platform, specifically, it was focused on various social media platforms, namely, Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, each offering different functions to their users. N = 494 (n = 358 males) participants filled in questionnaires on the Big Five of personality, impulsivity, and social anxiety. Additionally, participants who endorsed using Facebook, and/or WhatsApp, and/or Instagram also completed scales assessing tendencies towards Facebook, and/or WhatsApp, and/or Instagram Use Disorder. Generalized linear models revealed that impulsivity and especially extraversion were positively associated with Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram Use Disorder scores. Conscientiousness (negatively) and particularly neuroticism (positively) were only significantly related to Facebook Use Disorder scores. However, the non-significant associations of WhatsApp and Instagram Use Disorder scores with neuroticism were most likely due to neuroticism's overlap with impulsivity and social anxiety. In conclusion, the present study provides insights into potential common and distinct predisposing factors for the development of Use Disorders of various social media platforms providing different content and functions to their users. Future studies should aim at causally investigating why different platforms are addictive to people with distinct pers…

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.psychres.2020.112793

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  • A considerable amount of literature correlates higher PSMU with higher self-reported general impulsivity.

    “A considerable amount of literature correlates higher PSMU with higher self-reported general impulsivity, though interpretation is limited by the use of different scales (Cudo et al., 2020; Sindermann et al., 2020; Wu et al., 2013).”

    From Problematic social media use and inhibitory control among post-secondary students (2025) · cites this paper as Sindermann et al., 2020

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Authors
Sindermann, C., Elhai, J. D., & Montag, C.
Affiliations
  • Universität Ulm (DE)
  • University of Toledo (US)
Corresponding author
Sindermann, Cornelia
Venue
Psychiatry Research
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2020-03
Volume
285
Pages
112793
ISSN
0165-1781 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2999389268
Cited by
90
References
63
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 18 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 12
FWCI
19.02
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Psychiatry Research (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
German Research Foundation (MO2363/3-2)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Traits and Psychology
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology
Keywords
social media use disorder, Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, impulsivity, social anxiety, Big Five personality traits, extraversion, neuroticism, conscientiousness, personality traits

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