Problematic smartphone use and associated personality traits: A study of undergraduate students in a Nigerian University

Abstract

The study examined problematic smartphone use and associated personality traits (loneliness, extraversion and self-esteem) in a mixed sample  respondents. The sample comprised 271 voluntary participants (165 males and 106 females; Mean age= 23.7) conveniently selected from among  undergraduate students at an institution of higher education in a semi-urban setting in Nigeria. Results indicated that loneliness (r = .29, p<.05),  extraversion (r = .43, p<.001) and self-esteem (r = .48, p<.001) are significantly related to problematic smartphone use. Results also showed a significant independent and combined influence of loneliness, extraversion and self-esteem on problematic smartphone use, with extraversion as the personality trait with the strongest influence. Also, gender did not influence problema tic smartphone use. Implication and recommendations of the  findings were discussed.

Keywords: problematic smartphone use, loneliness, extraversion, self-esteem, gender, undergraduate students