Running head:
INTERNET DEPENDENCE AND SHYNESS
Internet Dependence in the
Collegiate Population: The Role of Shyness[*]
C.
St. Bonaventure University
Michael
J. Lavin, Department of Psychology,
_________________________________
Abstract
Low sensation seeking and
loneliness have been associated with collegiate Internet dependence. In an
attempt to further explicate the factors associated with collegiate Internet
dependence, interpersonal shyness (both online and in face-to-face (FTF)
interactions) was explored. An online questionnaire was used to assess Internet
dependency and shyness. The results demonst
Internet Dependence in the
Collegiate Population: The Role of Shyness
No college experience is complete without a foray
into cyberspace1. College
students seem to be spending more and more time online than ever before. Dorm rooms are equipped with coveted T3
lines. Students are provided with E-mail
accounts and homepages. They instant
message (IM) and download music. They
buy online, they sell online. There is
online access in to library holdings, bank accounts, and what the line looks
like in the cafeteria. With Ethernet
ports and outlets among the grass and trees of the quad, they can even connect
outside. The vocabulary of the
collegiate now includes login, afk, rofl, lol, imho,
btw, brb, html, download, mp3, rip, IP address,
server, bit
However, recent research suggests trouble in academic
cyberspace. Kandell
addressed the vulnerability of college students to Internet dependence. Using the Internet (e.g. E-mail, surfing,
multiple user dungeons (MUDS), and homepage creation) appears to support both
the mindsets of engagement and control.
The susceptibility of college students to fall victim to Internet
addiction is related to identity and intimacy development, the availability of
the Internet, and the increased use for course work. Students dependent on the Internet seem to
have primary psychological problems that the addiction stems from. Internet addicts experience side effects such
as disturbing feelings (e.g. depression) when not on the Internet, spending
unlimited time and money while participating in activities online, a growing
tolerance to any effects that may be doing harm to he/she while online, and a
strong sense of denial about having any sort of problem. Anecdotal and empirical findings lend support
to Kandell’s vulnerability model of collegiate
Internet dependence.
A
study conducted at Alfred University2 concluded that Internet
dependency was a major factor on its dropouts.
It was found that prolonged Internet users were twice as likely to miss
class than occasional users. Based on
exit interviews, 32 of the 75 freshmen that had departed from the university
had been using the Internet at least six hours per night; the most popular
hours were between
Pathological Internet use by students was examined by Morahan-Martin and Schumacher 4. Participants answered “yes” or “no” to a 13 item questionnaire; those who answered yes to four or more of the Internet use statements (e.g., “I have missed classes or work because of on-line activities”) were considered pathological users. At the conclusion of the study, it was found that 8.1% of the students were catalogued as pathological users. Compared to the average user’s 3.45 hours online per week, pathological Internet users spent 8.48 hours online. In addition, Internet use was prolonged for 13% of the participants investigated by Scherer 5.
Kubey, Lavin, and Barrows6 evaluated Internet
dependency and its effects. A 43-item
survey was distributed to 542 university students. Nine percent of the participants not only
classified themselves as being psychologically dependent on the Internet,
but also identified themselves as having
trouble with schoolwork, missing class time, and having a sense of guilt and
lack of control over their Internet use.
A 5-point Likert-type scale was used to
determine dependency. Internet
dependents seem to be more likely to cripple their academic careers due to
excessive use. The results support the
greater use of the Internet by dependents4 and the increased
probability that dependents would miss class2. While these studies demonst
More recent
studies have attempted to ascertain the personality characteristics of Internet
dependence. Morahan-Martin7
suggests that there is a relationship between Internet dependence and
loneliness. Whether dependence causes
loneliness or loneliness causes dependence is yet to be determined. Users become more interested and invest more
time in online
Research has yet to investigate the relationship between Internet dependence and the lack of interpersonal skills. Shyness, manifested as the avoidance of social situations, self-doubt, and social fear, exemplifies a deficiency in social competence9. With the advent of new technologies that limit our face-to-face (FTF) contacts, the relationship between these technologies (e.g., the Internet) and shyness must be considered. The following study was designed to assess the relationship between Internet dependence and shyness. Accordingly, it is hypothesized that dependents and nondependents interact with the Internet differently; nondependents will show no difference in shyness whether FTF or online, and dependents will be more shy in FTF situations than online.
Method
Two hundred and eighty three
students at a small private university in western
An online questionnaire was used to
evaluate the relationship between Internet dependency and shyness. The questionnaire consisted of a total of 29
questions. The first two questions asked
for the participant’s school identification number and gender. The identification number was used to manage
multiple submissions. For multiple
submissions with the same scores, all but one set of scores was
eliminated. For multiple submissions
with different scores, all submissions were eliminated. Four questions were devoted to hours using
the Internet (i.e., total number of hours and hours spent E-mailing, Internet
relay chat or IRC, and instant messaging or IM). Participants choose from “0” to “29” hours
with options for each hour interval, or “30 or more hours.” The remaining questions addressed Internet
dependency and shyness. These questions
were
A 2 x 2 factorial design was used
with Internet dependency as a between variable and shyness as a within
variable.
The school’s e-mail student notice
board was used to inform potential participants of the study. There were two announcements made about the
study over a three-week period. The
students who wished to participate clicked on a link provided in the
announcement that took them to the online form.
The submission of the form was considered an agreement of consent as
well as an affirmation that the participant was at least 18 years old. The entire procedure took about five minutes
to complete. A monetary incentive was
offered to all participants to complete the questionnaire; one student ID
number was randomly picked once the data collection was completed. Based on the dependency criteria, the
participants were divided into two groups, nondependents
(n = 240) and dependents (n = 43). The
researchers determined Internet dependency and calculated the shyness scores.
Results
A summary of the number of hours of
Internet use is provided in Table 1.
Overall, Internet dependents spent more time online than
non-dependents. Dependents spent
significantly more total time online, t
(281) = 2.55, p = .01, and
significantly more time using instant messaging, t (281) = 3.53, p = .00;
no significant differences were found for IRC and e-mail. No significant gender differences were found.
An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted to determine
the relationship between Internet dependency and shyness (Table 2). The predicted interaction was obtained, F (1, 281) = 7.95, MSE = 11.30, p = .005. No significant differences were found for
dependence or shyness. Table 3 shows the mean shyness scores by situation and
dependency. For nondependent users,
there were no significant differences between their levels of shyness FTF or
online. However, dependent users were
significantly less shy online than FTF.
The interaction is illust
Discussion
Personality
characteristics that have been associated with Internet dependence include:
loneliness7
and low sensation seeking8. The present study
provides support for an additional correlate, shyness. In regards to shyness and dependence, it
seems that situation plays an important role.
No change in shyness levels between FTF and online situations occurred
for nondependents.
However, Internet dependent college students, who displayed high levels
of shyness in FTF situations, were less shy online. While Carducci
and Zimbardo feared for an increase in shyness with
the continued growth of technology, the Internet decreases shyness for some.
The
Internet provides a safe haven where feelings of social discomfort are
alleviated. Online use eliminates the
negative and undesirable feelings that accompany FTF communication. Internet
dependents may feel more confident when interacting online
As students
enter the collegiate population, not only is it necessary to address binge
drinking and date rape during orientation, but the dangers of the Internet
should also be noted. Low sensation
seeking, lonely, or shy students are prime candidates for Internet
dependence. These students need to be
especially alerted to the problems associated with excessive Internet use.
References
1. Kandell JJ.
Internet addiction on campus: The vulnerability of college students. CyberPsychology and Behavior 1998;
2. On Line. (1996,
April 26). Chronicle of Higher Education, p. A21.
3. Leibowitz E.
(2001). New addiction hits campuses: the
Internet [On-line]. Available: http://www.stp.uh.edu/vol61/80/5a.html
4. Morahan-Martin J,
Schumacher P. Incidence and correlates of pathological Internet use among
college students. Computers in Human Behavior 2000; 16:13-29.
5. Scherer K. College life on-line: Healthy and
unhealthy Internet use. Journal of College Student Development 1997; 38:655-65.
6. Kubey R, Lavin M.,
Barrows J. Internet use and collegiate academic performance decrements: Early
findings. Journal of Communication 2001; 51:366-82.
7. Morahan-Martin J.
The relationship between loneliness and Internet use and abuse. CyberPsychology and Behavior 1999; 2:431-39.
8. Lavin M, Marvin K, McLarney
A, Nola V, Scott, L. Sensation seeking and collegiate vulnerability to Internet
dependence. CyberPsychology & Behavior 1999;
2:425-30.
9. Carducci BJ, Zimbardo PG. Are you shy. Psychology Today 1995; 28:34-46.
10. American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders (4th ed.).
Table
1
|
Non-Dependent (n = 240) |
|
Dependent (n = 43) |
|
t |
p |
|
||
|
M
|
SD
|
|
M
|
SD
|
|
|
||
E-mail |
3.46 |
3.47 |
|
4.07 |
4.54 |
|
1.01 |
.31 |
|
Internet Relay Chat (IRC) |
0.53 |
2.85 |
|
0.91 |
2.77 |
|
0.80 |
.41 |
|
Instant Messaging (IM) |
5.10 |
7.55 |
|
10.63 |
9.80 |
|
3.53 |
.00** |
|
Total |
11.57 |
7.89 |
|
14.98 |
8.89 |
|
2.56 |
.01** |
*p < .05.
**p < .01.
Table
2
Source |
df
|
F
|
Between Subjects |
|
|
Internet Dependency (D) |
1 |
0.92 |
|
|
|
Within Subjects |
|
|
Shyness (S) |
1 |
1.73 |
S x D |
1 |
7.95** |
error |
281 |
|
*p < .05. **p < .01.
Table 3
|
Non-Dependent (n=240) |
Dependent (n=43) |
Shyness Situation |
|
|
Face-to-Face |
17.82 |
19.42 |
Online |
18.42 |
17.79 |
Figure Caption
Figure 1. Mean shyness scores as a function of
situation and Internet dependence.
Michael J. Lavin, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology
St. Bonaventure University
[*]
Abstract presented at the 14th annual convention of the American
Psychological Society, 2002,