Internet Addiction, Social Media Addiction, and Nomophobia in Social Media Managers: What Is Their Relationship with Personality Traits

Abstract

recepcolak@trabzon.edu.tr Excessive and pathological use of the internet, social media, and smartphones increases the risk of behavioral addiction. Social media managers are constantly online because of their work and responsibilities, which suggests that they are a risk group for developing behavioral addictions. It has been stated in the literature that personality traits are a potential source of many problematic behaviors related to addiction. The current study examined the role of personality traits on internet addiction, social media addiction, and nomophobia in social media managers. In this predictive correlational study, the research group comprises 218 social media managers working in public and private institutions in different provinces of Türkiye. According to the results of multiple regression analyses conducted separately for each dependent variable, personality traits (extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, openness) together exhibited a significant relationship with internet addiction, social media addiction, and the sub-dimensions of nomophobia. The five personality traits together explained 41% of the variance in internet addiction, 21% of the variance in social media addiction, and 14% of the variance in nomophobia. Based on the results obtained, the current study can provide insights into the risk factors for developing behavioral addictions in social media managers.