Personality and Internet Use: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract

This meta-analysis examined the relationship between varieties of Internet use and personality based on five-factor model. A search of the following databases was conducted for identifying relevant English articles published prior to the end of 2015: PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, Psychology and Behavioral Science Collection, ISI Web of Science databases, ProQuest Digital Dissertations, and Elsevier Science. A cumulative total sample size ranged to over 4,000, however, the final 40 studies with 295 effects are examined in this article after confirming to be relevant. The result revealed that agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Neuroticism, and Openness had differed in participants’ Internet behaviors for Information seeking, Leisure activities and the general, but surprisingly they did not work moderately in social activities online. The effect of publication year and participants’ age were partial supported as the moderators.