Generalized problematic internet use and perfectionism in portuguese university students

Abstract

Introduction: Although there are several empirical studies exploring the relationship between problematic Internet use and personality traits, few had considered perfectionism. Objectives: To explore the association between generalized problematic Internet use and perfectionism. Methods: A sample of 433 Portuguese university students (Mage = 20.15 years, SD = 1.77, range = 18-25 years) completed the Generalized Problematic Internet Use Scale 2/GPIU and the Multidimensional Perfectionism Composite Scale - short version. Results: GPIU total score (rs=.16∗∗), Mood Regulation (rs=.22∗∗), and Deficient Self-Regulation (rs=.13∗∗) were correlated with Positive Striving factor. GPIU total score (rs=.38∗∗), Preference for Online Social Interaction (rs=.16∗∗), Mood Regulation (rs=.28∗∗), Deficient Self-Regulation (rs = .33∗∗), and Negative Consequences (rs=.41∗∗) were significantly correlated with Evaluative Concerns factor. A one-way between groups analysis of variance was conducted to explore the relation between GPIU and perfectionism. Subjects were divided into three groups according to their GPIU risk levels (Group1:low-risk; Group2:medium-risk; Group3:high-risk). There was a statistically difference at p >.05 level in Positive Striving scores for the three risk level groups: F (2,430)=4.39, p=.013, and in Evaluative Concerns scores, F (2,430)=28.83, p=