Personality Correlates, Emotional Intelligence among Late Adolescents with Internet Addiction

Abstract

Present research was conducted to study the Personality Correlates, Emotional Intelligence among Late Adolescents with Internet Addiction. 30 samples who have moderate to severe internet addiction, between age group 17 to 22 of mixed gender with higher secondary education were selected using Purposive Sampling technique from Amity University, Lucknow. They were screened through the Internet Addiction Test developed by Kimberley Young in 1998. Samples with IAT scores below average, having learning disability or any kind of psychopathology were excluded from the study. Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (16PF) developed by Raymond B. Cattell in 1949 and Multidimensional Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Scale-Revised (MSREIS-R) developed by Pandey and Anand in 2008 were administered to assess the personality correlates and emotional intelligence among late adolescents with internet addiction. Participants with IA showed higher frequencies of personality disorders (29.6%) compared to those without IA (9.3%; p < .001). In males with IA, Cluster C personality disorders were more prevalent than among non-addicted males. Compared to participants who had IA only, lower rates of remission of IA were found among participants with IA and additional cluster B personality disorder. Personality disorders were significantly associated with IA in multivariate analysis. Comorbidity of IA and personality disorders along with emotional intelligence. These correlations must be considered in prevention and treatment.