Temperament Characteristics of Internet Addiction in Adults

Yim, Seon Jin; Kim, Jin Hun; Jang, Dong Won; Chung, Eun Ki; Yoon, Hae Joo; Kim, Eui Jung

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Since mid-90s there have been numerous studies to understand and establish the concept of internet addiction as one of diagnostic classifications in psychiatry. Among them, many studies on the personality characteristics of internet addiction have been conducted. Recently, interests are expanding to temperament characteristics of internet addictors but the subjects have been limited to adolescents. In this study, the temperament characteristics of internet addiction in adults were investigated using Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ).
METHODS
430 participants (189 males, 241 females) answered the on-line and off-line questionnaires from January to December in 2005. Participants completed questionnaires on demography and the onset of internet use, Young's Internet Addiction Scale and Korean Contracted Version of Cloninger's Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ).
RESULTS
There were statistically significant differences in age, marital status, occupation, psychiatric history, smoking history, alcohol history and onset age of internet use among non-addiction, overuse and addiction groups by Young's scale. Of the TPQ items harm avoidance (HA) scores were significantly higher in addiction and overuse groups than non-addiction group. Reward dependence (RD) scores were significantly lower in addiction group than non-addiction group. Novelty seeking (NS) scores were significantly higher in addiction group than non-addiction group.
CONCLUSION
This study suggests a significant difference of novelty seeking in temperament characteristics between adults and adolescents with internet addiction. Further studies are expected for profound understanding of internet addiction.