Life in Cyberspace: Role of Personality and Loneliness

Abstract

The availability and essentiality of internet has increased exponentially in recent years. Individuals go to the internet for information, entertainment, relationships and support. Internet overuse is a raising phenomenon affecting people with varying frequency around the world and has produced negative impacts on the personal and professional aspects of many lives. Earlier research has shown that personality variables and loneliness influence the life in cyberspace. Extraversion/introversion, neuroticism, locus of control and self-efficacy, and social and emotional loneliness influence the individual's internet usage behavior. The present study reviews the earlier research and on the basis of that proposes a conceptual framework of the virtual human with gender, age and internet use moderating the relationship between personality, loneliness, and online flow experiences. It also proposes, online flow experiences mediating the relationship between personality, loneliness, and stress, depression, achievement and quality of life. The relationship between these entire variables act as antecedents of internet addiction disorder, a contemporary problem brought about by easy access to computers and online information. When an individual suffers from depression and stress, and his/her achievement and quality of life deteriorates; s/he is more prone to internet addiction disorder. These people find the virtual environment to be more attractive than everyday reality. Their lives are dominated with their need to be online. As internet use has become an indispensable part of many people lives, a comprehensive understanding of all these variables will enable to further the understanding of life in cyberspace.