Problematic internet use and the big five personality model: an updated three-level meta-analysis

Abstract

In recent decades, there has been a significant increase in internet use. The excessive and pathological use of this technology, conceptualised as problematic use of the internet, has become a global public health problem due to the various negative effects associated with it. The present work is an updated three-level meta-analysis of the relationship between Big Five personality traits and the problematic use of the internet. A systematic search was performed in PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus, ERIC, ProQuest Dissertation & Theses Global and PubMed. The risk of publication bias was evaluated using funnel plots and Egger’s test. Extraversion (r = −.10, IC 95% [−.14, −.06]), openness (r = −.10, IC 95% [−.14, −.06]), agreeableness (r = −.19, IC 95% [−.22, −.15]) and conscientiousness (r = −.27, IC 95% [−.30, −.24]) were significantly negatively correlated with the problematic use of the internet, while neuroticism (r = .26, IC 95% [.22, .30]) was positively correlated. The results of this meta-analysis contribute to explaining individual differences in problematic internet use.