Personality traits and tendency to an information overload
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2021-10-02 |
Introduction The rapid prevalence and availability of information in the digital age poses a challenge called information overload [1]. Information overload is a condition resulting from an excess amount of information beyond an individual's capacity and it might be associated with especially medical students, considering them as a population with an increased risk of high information overload exposure [2]. Taking into account there is a link between information overload and personality traits [3]. The five personality traits of the “Big Five” model are neuroticism, extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, and conscientiousness [4]. Previous studies show meaningful links between the big five personality traits and usage of information providing devices [5]. Aim To evaluate the connection between the personality traits and time spent using each different screen source: smartphone, computer, tablet and television. Methods The method of the research was based on a survey-observational study and it was performed at the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, faculty of medicine during the period 2021 01 12-2021 01 25. Lithuanian University of Health Sciences 5th year medical students voluntarily participated in the 14-day study. Participants were asked to follow and register their time spent using devices (smartphone, tablet, computer, and television), each device separately. To precisely observe the time participants were asked to use the “Screen time” function in their devices or to install the free application "Stay free". For evaluation of participants’ personality traits, they were asked to fill the questionnaire. The analysis of results was made using a Big Five Personality Dimensions Scale and SPSS 26.0. Data were evaluated with ANOVA (Analysis of variance). Differences were considered statistically significant when p < 0,05. The study was performed with the permission of the Bioethics center of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (BEC-MF-47). Results There were 33 participants overall, 66,7% (n=22) women and 33,3% (n=11) men. The mean age was 23 (±0,7) years. Dominant personality traits of participants were extraversion 33,3% (n=11) and conscientiousness 33,3% (n=11), less common: agreeableness 27,3% (n=9), openness to experience 6,1% (n=2), moreover, neuroticisms was not a dominant personality trait for any of the participants. There was no significant difference between personality traits and smartphone, neither television or tablet usage time (p>0,05). There was a significant difference between computer usage time and personality traits (p=0,012 p<0,05). Participants whose dominant personality trait was extraversion mean time spent using a computer was 214,9min per day (+-102,8), conscientiousness - 300,0min per day (±109,2), agreeableness - 290,9min per day (±69,9), openness to experience - 490,3min per day (±190,4). Conclusions The data show that participants whose dominant personality trait was openness to experience were more likely to spend more time using the computer, otherwise participants whose dominant personality trait was extraversion were more likely to spend less time using the computer compared with other dominant personality traits.