Personality and self reported mobile phone use

As the mobile phone supports interpersonal interaction, mobile phone use might be a function of personality. This study sought to predict amounts and types of mobile phone use from extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism and self-esteem. One hundred and twelve mobile phone owners reported on their use of their mobile phones, and completed the NEO-FFI and the Coopersmith self-esteem inventory. Extraverts reported spending more time calling, and changing ring tone and wallpaper, implying the use of the mobile phone as a means of stimulation. Extraverts and perhaps disagreeable individuals were less likely to value incoming calls. Disagreeable extraverts also reported using the mobile phone more, and spent more time adjusting ringtone/wallpaper. The neurotic, disagreeable, unconscientious and extroverted spent more time messaging using SMS. This study concludes that psychological theory can explain patterns of mobile phone use. Crown Copyright (c) 2007 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.