Sleep Patterns of Excessive Internet Users: Role of Personality Traits

Page: 340-345
Sukhminder Kaur and Jasreet Kaur (Department of Psychology, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab)

The expansion in internet availability with widespread devices such as mobile phones has given the opportunity to young people to access and use internet during day or bed time. In researches, excessive usage of internet has been reported as a significant factor in maladjustment and has detrimental effects on well-being of youngsters. Such effects hinder their studies, interpersonal relationships and impact their long term career goals. It has been revealed that excessive internet usage impacts physical and mental health of adolescents while considering personality traits crucial for developing addictions and preventing the ill effects of over usage. Thus, the objective of present study was to assess the role of personality factors in sleep behaviors of excessive internet users. The sample comprised of 100 male adolescents from various schools of Patiala within the age range of 15-18 years. Product moment Correlation coefficient and regression analysis were used to analyze the data. The findings of the study revealed a positive association of Extraversion with night time sleepability and anytime sleepability and negative correlation with morning lateness, evening lateness and anytime wakeability of excessive internet users. Further neuroticism was positively correlated with morning lateness, evening lateness and anytime wakeability but negative association with night sleep quality and anytime sleepability. Also, Psychoticism was positively correlated with morning lateness, evening lateness anytime sleepability and anytime wakeability but negative association with night time sleepability. Additionally, Extraversion had a significant contribution in healthy sleep-wake patterns. Significant implications of the study have been discussed.