Introduction

Smart phone usage which increased with rapid development of technology has become an essential part of life¹. Smart phones are defined as a combination of computer systems with telephone system. The popularity of social networking sites which have become essential economic markets has an essential role to play in the development of smart phones. At this point, the examination of sociological dimensions of smart phone usage gains importance². There are several studies on internet usage and relevant problems. Smart phone and social media usage reflects the personality features of individuals³. A study conducted on Facebook users said that narcissist people performed more photograph sharing and situation update⁴. The study conducted by Correa et al.⁵ concluded that anxious people spent more time in Facebook. Similarly, it is seen that there is a relation between Facebook usage frequency and narcissist personality⁶. Depending on usage frequency, psychiatric diagnosis criteria also changed and “abuse and addiction of substance” in DSM-5 was replaced by “substance usage and addiction disorders” category which is now including behavioural addictions. As the case in substance addiction, repetitive behaviours, degeneration of functionality, distancing from real world, tolerance development and deprivation symptoms are among behavioural addiction criteria⁷. Smart phone addiction is a relatively new phenomenon; thus, very few studies define the symptoms of this type of addiction⁸. Repetitive behavioural disorders which affect the functionality in daily life and interpersonal relations have to be examined from the perspective of addiction concept⁹. with this change in DSM-5, the concept of addiction which only referred to the disorders related to substances in the past cover whole behaviors not related to substances at present. In DSM-5 the only disorder not related to substances is “gambling disorder”; however, it is stated that clinic studies in the future can evaluate gaming addiction on internet as an independent diagnosis category¹⁰. In order to be able to evaluate pathological situations such as shopping, sexuality, exercise, solarium, internet and smart phone addiction which stimulate rewarding system and progress using repetitive and compulsive behavior patterns within the scope of DSM and to determine diagnosis criteria, studies which will help display constant and repetitive usages of these disorders which can degenerate functionality are needed⁹. Repetitive behaviors lie in the foundation of behavioral addictions. Behaviors which give pleasure to individuals produce behaviors and lead to habitual situations¹¹. For this reason, one has to be very careful when evaluating a behavior which became habit as an addictive behavior. Similar to other areas of addiction, excessive dealing with a certain behavior and repeating these behaviors in order to create an emotion in order to become distant from the real world and reveal an emotion which makes oneself feel better¹², development of tolerance as behaviors are repeated, difficulty in controlling behaviors, repetition of behavior, emergence of such withdrawal findings as tension, irritability, and unrest, and proceeding of behaviors at an increasing rate lead to the degeneration of functionality¹³. Although smart phone addiction has not been defined clearly yet, it mostly emerges with such symptoms as not being able to be away from the phone, controlling the phone frequently, insomnia due to excessive usage of the phone and distortion of sleeping quality¹⁴.

It is reported that 64% of America is smart phone user 46% of which is problematic users¹⁵. Studies conducted on smart phone addiction displayed that it is related to such variables as loneliness, narcissist personality and low self-esteem¹⁶. In addition to claiming an importance place in the lives of individuals as social interaction tools, using smart phones to spend more time in social networking sites reduces student success¹⁷. In addition, it is also stated that it is related to individuals suffering from more negative feelings¹⁸. It is reported that personality extroversion dimension predicts smart phone addiction¹⁹.

Personality is defined as characteristic features and static qualifications in tendencies; it appears as the fundamental element which determines the feelings, opinions and behaviours of the individual²⁰. Despite their different viewpoints, theories defining personality agree that personality covers cognitive, emotional, social and physical areas²¹. Cloninger and Svrakic²² mention the environmental-adaptation effect of personality. Personality has bene explained by several theories and disorders are based on the explained theory. It is reported that in addition to biological construction, psychosocial factors are also essential in the formation of personality disorders²³. Cognitive approach explains personality development of a person with the beliefs developed in childhood. It is argued that the functionality of these beliefs is effective in the formation of personality disorder. According to cognitive approach, every disorder has unique non-functional beliefs²⁴. A person with narcissist personality disorder believes that he/she has a very essential place in the society whereas another person with paranoid disorder believes that other people will harm him/her. Examination of cognitive structures of a person displays the personality characteristics of that person²⁵. Cognitive theory deals with the belief dimension of personality whereas it explains personality disorders with non-functional beliefs²⁴. Basic beliefs shaped by the experiences of the individual direct his/her emotions and behaviours²⁶. Beliefs which are activated with an experience affect the experience of the individual negatively if they are not functional²⁷. The purpose of this study is to determine the relation between smart phone addiction of university students and their personality beliefs.

Methods

Results

It has been found out that 35% of participants received scores above 31 which is the cutoff score defined by Kwon et al. According to the obtained results, it has been found out that smart phone addiction scores do not show significant difference depending on gender (p = 0.221).

It has been observed that there is a low and significant relation (Table 1) between dependent personality (r = 0.332, p < 0.001), narcissist personality (r = 0.265, p < 0.001), antisocial personality (r = 0.237, p < 0.001), paranoid personality (r = 0.245, p < 0.001), borderline personality (r = 0.246, p < 0.001), histrionic personality (r = 0.258, p < 0.001), schizoid personality (r = 0.161, p < .001), obsessive compulsive personality (r = 0.135, p < .001), passive-aggressive personality (r = 0.086, p < .01) and avoidant personality (r = 0.131, p < .001) beliefs and smart phone addiction scores. Another finding is that the relation between dependent personality beliefs and smart phone addiction is significant at higher level compared to other personality beliefs. There are research findings in the literature which show that addiction is in relation with impulsivity. When the findings of the study are examined, it has been that there is relation between antisocial, histrionic, and narcissist personality, which are in B category, and smart phoned addiction. It is known that individuals in this category act more impulsively than other groups.

According to the conducted multiple regression analysis (Table 2), it is found out that dependent, antisocial, narcissist, histrionic, borderline, paranoid personality, schizoid personality, obsessive compulsive personality, passive-aggressive personality and avoidant personality beliefs predicted smart phone addiction at significant level (R = 0.38, R²= 0.15, p < 0.001). The mentioned variables explain 15% of the variance. An examination of the t-test shows that dependent personality (t = 5.585, p < 0.001), passive-aggressive personality (t = -4.485, p < .001) and paranoid personality (t = 2.901, p < .01) belief among the mentioned variables are a significant predictor of smart phone addiction.

Discussion

Pew Research Centre reports that 64% of the American population is smart phone user 46% of which bears addiction risk¹⁵. Consisted with the percentage of the centre, 32% of the participants of this study were found to be subject to smart phone addiction risk. There are research findings which show that smart phone addiction is more widespread among males¹⁶. However, in this research, it is found out that gender variable did not create any significant difference in smart phone addiction scores. It is believed that this difference is caused by cultural variables. Possession, accessibility and usability of smart phones is part of daily life at similar levels for both genders.

Loneliness, narcissist characteristics, low self-esteem are among the variables which can affect smart phone addiction¹⁶. In this study, the predictor impact of personality beliefs on smart phone addiction has been examined. At the end of the study, it has been observed that dependent, narcissist, histrionic, borderline, antisocial and paranoid personality beliefs predict smart phone addiction positively and at significantly. As regards prediction of smart phone addiction, it was found out that dependent personality characteristic was significant. The study of Butt and Phillips³ reported that personality features are predictor of smart phone addiction. It is expected that the two variables are related considering that personality features reflect the emotions and behaviours of the individual. On the other hand, there are findings in the literature that narcissist features are the most related ones with smart phone addition or social media addiction. However, in this study it became noticeable that dependent personality belief is a significant predictor of smart phone addiction. According to cognitive behavioural approach, every personality has a non-functional fundamental belief²⁶. Individuals with dependent personality belief are in intense need of another for their individual lives. It is very difficult for them to exist in the absence of another person. At this point, the “other” of individuals with dependent personality to whom they are dependent is replaced by smart phones. Individuals with paranoid personality characteristics are thought to have received more smartphone addiction scores in relation to having a thought of persecution. In addition, the persons who have passive-aggressive personality beliefs reflected their aggressive emotions through smartphone. It is known that individuals with dependent and passive aggressive personality beliefs display submissive behaviour before authority. Individuals with paranoid personality beliefs also have important difficulties with authority; however, unlike dependent and passive-aggressive, they use projectional defense mechanism²⁶ and believe that what is unreliable is the external object. The common feature of these three personality beliefs is that they have problems with confidence and authority. Individuals with dependent personality belief have higher levels of addiction. Smartphone addiction has to be distinguished from substance addictions. Technology has improved rapidly and cyber-spaces which present unlimited information caused the daily life to be carried to the virtual space. As a result, the distinction between a living thing and an artificial thing disappeared and the boundaries of personality vanished. As a result of such alienation, the search for meeting the needs in objective work disappeared. When one starts with an identity in virtual reality, the unacceptable and suppressed dimension of the personality turns the different, meaning virtual reality into a virtual ID and hides it from reality; the suppressed side also has the opportunity of continuing its existence³⁵. It also keeps off the real life anxieties caused by the rejection of desires. Thus, an action which is not performed in reality is not a source of shame. It offers the person freedoms which are idealized, do not generate anxiety, allows for creation and can be hidden as desired. It hides the unacceptable drives of the person and provides satisfaction in the created virtual environment, which is related to negative emotions³⁶. In this way, the level of addiction of individuals for smart phones increases which are essential tools in reaching the virtual environment where they can freely express their drives.

In accordance with the obtained results, it was found out that dependent, passive-aggressive and paranoid personality beliefs predicts smart phone addiction. Future studies should examine such intermediate variables as loneliness, relationship satisfaction and social support perception which can be related to dependent personality and smart phone addiction which would enrich knowledge on smart phone addiction. This study covered participants with similar characteristics. It is believed that studies with different age groups and individuals with different characteristics will make essential contribution to the field.