Psychopathological Correlates of Dysfunctional Smartphone and Social Media Use: The Role of Personality Disorders in Technological Addiction and Digital Life Balance

Abstract

Current technological development has made the Internet and new technologies increasingly present in people's lives, expanding their opportunities but also potentially posing risks for dysfunctional use. This study aims to identify psychopathological factors associated with dysfunctional ICT use, extending the evidence beyond the well-established relationships with mood disorders to include personality disorders (i.e., cluster C in particular). A total of 711 participants (75.70% female; Mage = 28.33 years, SD = 12.30) took part in the data collection. Firstly, the results showed positive correlations between higher levels of addictive patterns for the Internet, social networks, smartphones and applications, and video games and higher levels of borderline symptoms as assessed by the Borderline Symptom List 23-Short Version. Moreover, scores reflecting high addictive patterns also positively correlated with general narcissistic traits as indicated by the total score of the Narcissistic Personality Inventory 13-Short Version and those specifically described by its Entitlement/Exploitativeness dimension, as well as with higher levels of almost all the personality traits assessed by the Personality Inventory for DSM 5-Brief Form (i.e., negative affectivity, detachment, disinhibition, and psychoticism). These findings broaden the still scarce body of evidence on the relationship between personality disorders and dysfunctional ICT use, which, however, needs to be further explored.

Keywords: borderline personality; digital life balance; internet addiction; narcissistic traits; personality disorders; social media.

Figure 1

Network plot. Note: NPI_LA = Leadership/Authority; NPI_GE = Grandiose/Exhibitionism; NPI_EE = Entitlement/Exploitativeness; BLS = Borderline Symptom List (log transformed); PID5_NA = negative affectivity; PID5_De = detachment; PID5_A = antagonism; PID5_Di = disinhibition; PID5_Ps = psychoticism; Red lines = negative associations; Blue lines = positive associations.

Figure 2

Centrality plot. Note: NPI_LA = Leadership/Authority; NPI_GE = Grandiose/Exhibitionism; NPI_EE = Entitlement/Exploitativeness; BLS = Borderline Symptom List (log transformed); PID5_NA = negative affectivity; PID5_De = detachment; PID5_A = antagonism; PID5_Di = disinhibition; PID5_Ps = psychoticism.