To What Extent Does Personality Influence the Use of Facebook – A Case from Turkey

Abstract

The relationship between the personality and the use of Facebook to satisfy the needs of belonging and self-presentation are examined in the current study. 214 university students completed the Big Five personality traits questionnaire and a survey assessing personality and Facebook behaviors and motivations. Belongingness-related behaviors and motivations were predicted best by high agreeableness and neuroticism . Extraversion was associated with more frequent use of Facebook to communicate with others. Low conscientiousness and high neuroticism predicted best by self-presentational behaviors and motivations. Results suggested that conscientious individuals were cautious in their online self-presentation. Neuroticism, agreeableness, and extraversion were positively associated with the tendency to express one’s actual self. Neuroticism was positively associated with the expression of ideal and hidden self-aspects. The motivation to express these self-aspects mediated the relationship between neuroticism and self-disclosure.

Keywords: Social networking site, Facebook, the Big Five, Need to belong, Need for self-presentation