A longitudinal study of adolescent Internet addiction: the role of conscientiousness and classroom hostility

Stavropoulos, V, Kuss, D ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8917-782X, Griffiths, M ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8880-6524 and Motti-Stefanidi, F, 2016. A longitudinal study of adolescent Internet addiction: the role of conscientiousness and classroom hostility. Journal of Adolescent Research, 31 (4), pp. 442-473. ISSN 0743-5584

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Abstract

Over the last decade, research on Internet Addiction (IA) has increased. However, almost all studies in this area are cross-sectional and do not examine the context in which internet use takes place. Therefore, a longitudinal study examined the role of conscientiousness (as a personality trait) and classroom hostility (as a contextual factor) in the development of IA. The participants comprised 648 adolescents and were assessed over a two-year period (while aged 16–18 years). A three-level hierarchical linear model was carried out on the data collected. Findings revealed that: (i) lower conscientiousness was associated with IA and this did not change over time; and (ii) although being in a more hostile classroom did not initially have a significant effect, it increased girls’ IA vulnerability over time and functioned protectively for boys. Results indicated that the contribution of individual and contextual IA factors may differ across genders and over time. More specifically, although the protective effect of conscientiousness appeared to hold, the over-time effect of classroom hostility increased the risk of IA for girls. These findings are discussed in relation to the psychological literature. The study’s limitations and implications are also discussed.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Journal of Adolescent Research
Creators:	Stavropoulos, V., Kuss, D., Griffiths, M. and Motti-Stefanidi, F.
Publisher:	Sage
Date:	1 July 2016
Volume:	31
Number:	4
ISSN:	0743-5584
Divisions:	Schools > School of Social Sciences
Record created by:	EPrints Services
Date Added:	09 Oct 2015 10:01
Last Modified:	18 Oct 2017 13:33
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/6390

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