For many people, gaming and social media are part of everyday life, offering connection, relaxation, and entertainment. But for a small number, these activities can quietly become excessive, affecting sleep, work, relationships, and mental health. New research suggests that personality traits may play a significant role in who is most at risk of developing internet gaming disorder or social media addiction. The findings were published in the International Journal of Social Psychiatry.
The study examined how broad personality traits, as well as more specific personality facets, relate to problematic gaming and social media use in adults. Rather than focusing only on teenagers, who are often the centre of concern, the research looked at adults across a wide age range, reflecting how digital habits now extend well beyond adolescence.
Researchers analysed data from 246 adults aged between 18 and 88 who regularly played online games or used social media. Participants completed well established measures of personality alongside screening tools for internet gaming disorder and social media addiction. The aim was to see whether certain personality patterns consistently predicted higher or lower risk.
At the broad personality level, two traits stood out. Conscientiousness, which reflects self discipline, organisation, and goal focus, was linked to lower levels of both gaming disorder and social media addiction. People who tend to plan ahead and manage their time carefully appeared less likely to slip into problematic online habits.
In contrast, negative emotionality, which includes tendencies towards anxiety, low mood, and emotional instability, was associated with higher risk. Individuals who experience stronger negative emotions may be more likely to turn to games or social platforms as a way of coping, which can gradually become a cycle that is hard to break.
The picture became more detailed when the researchers looked at personality facets, which are narrower aspects within each trait. For gaming disorder, facets linked to responsibility, respect for others, and trust appeared to offer protection. Adults who felt dependable and considerate were less likely to report losing control over gaming.
Social media addiction showed a different pattern. Emotional volatility and depressive tendencies emerged as the strongest risk factors, suggesting that mood regulation plays a central role in problematic social media use. Organisation also mattered, with more organised individuals showing lower risk, possibly because they are better at setting limits across multiple platforms.
The findings highlight that gaming disorder and social media addiction, while often grouped together, are not identical. Gaming problems were more closely tied to interpersonal and responsibility related traits, while social media addiction was more strongly linked to mood and emotional regulation.
Importantly, the study does not suggest that personality determines destiny. Traits and facets describe tendencies, not fixed outcomes. But understanding these patterns may help clinicians, educators, and policymakers design more targeted prevention strategies that reflect how different people use digital technologies.
The researchers also noted limitations, including the cross-sectional design, which means cause and effect cannot be confirmed. Even so, the results add to growing evidence that personality plays a meaningful role in how adults engage with gaming and social media, and why some struggle more than others.