Understanding the Relationship between Problematic Internet Use Narcissism and Social Support

Description

Page: 89-94

Harshita Mamodia and Ajit Kumar Singh (Amity Institute of Behavioral and Allied Sciences, Amity University Rajasthan, Jaipur, Rajasthan)

With the pervasive influence of the internet in contemporary society, concerns regarding problematic internet use have escalated. As technology intertwines with daily life, understanding how narcissistic traits may influence internet behaviours becomes paramount. Furthermore, examining the impact of social support on these relationships adds a nuanced layer to the exploration. The present study investigates the correlation between problematic internet use narcissism and social support. One hundred college students aged 18-26 years participated in the study. The Problematic Internet Use Scale, The Narcissistic Personality Inventory-13 (NPI-13) and Social Support Scales were used to collect the data. The correlation between problematic internet use narcissism and social support was obtained. The findings showed that narcissism was positively correlated with problematic internet use and negatively correlated with social support. This suggests that individuals with higher levels of narcissism tend to exhibit higher levels of problematic internet use and lower levels of social support. Study findings highlight the varied degrees of influence narcissistic traits have on internet behaviours, allowing for a more complete understanding of this complex interaction. Furthermore, social support appears as a critical component in buffering or worsening the impact of problematic internet use, particularly among people with narcissistic tendencies.