Internet Use and Personality Traits among Adolescents: A Comparative Study across Gender, Community, and Urban-Rural Settings

Abstract

The internet is regularly used for education, work, social interaction, and other leisure activities. Adolescents rely on the internet for various purposes, and it offers a space of self-expression and identity exploration, enabling them to connect with like-minded individuals globally. The present research aimed to examine internet usage and personality traits among adolescents, with a specific focus on gender, community, and area of residence. The study was conducted in Tripura, and the sample consisted of 1200 adolescents. Data were collected using the Internet Addiction Test (Young, 1998) and the NEO Five Factor Inventory (McCrae & Costa, 2003). The results revealed significant gender differences in internet usage, as well as in the personality traits of neuroticism, extraversion, openness, and agreeableness. It also showed that tribal and non-tribal adolescents differ significantly in internet usage, neuroticism, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness traits of personality. Additionally, significant differences were observed between urban and rural adolescents in internet usage, neuroticism, extraversion, openness, and conscientiousness.