Internet use expectancy for tension reduction and disinhibition mediates the relationship between borderline personality disorder features and Internet addiction among college students – One-year follow-up

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) features with affective instability and impulsivity have been shown to correlate with Internet addiction (IA) in cross-sectional studies. Moreover, Internet use expectancies were found to be positively associated with IA. Thus, this follow-up study was aimed to examine whether BPD features would increase the risk for IA severity, mediated through the Internet use expectation as a coping method for tension reduction and disinhibition.1826 Taiwan college students were sampled through a stratified and random clustering in time 1 (T1), and 623 students were followed up one year later (T2). A comprehensive survey was administered.Structure equation modeling results showed that IA severity (T2) was significantly predicted by BPD features (T1), fully mediated through Internet use expectancy for tension reduction and disinhibition (T2). The model yielded an adequate fit, and was able to explain 43.0% of the variance.The mediating role of the Internet use expectation for tension reduction and disinhibition in the relationship between BPD features and IA severity were discussed.     

Does the use of social networking sites increase children’s risk of harm?

Although research findings have been equivocal as to whether the use of social networking sites (SNSs) increases experiences of online risk among children, the affordances of SNS lend support to this possibility, attracting much policy and public concern. The present article examines whether the use of such services increases the risks that children and young people encounter by analyzing data from a random stratified sample of approximately 1000 internet-using children aged 9–16 years in each of 25 European countries. Four hypotheses were formulated and tested. The first hypothesis, namely that children who use social networking sites will encounter more risks online than those who do not, is supported by the data. The second hypothesis stated that SNS users with more digital competence will encounter more online risk than those with less competence; this was also supported, despite being counter to common assumptions. Thirdly, we hypothesized that SNS users with more risky SNS practices (e.g. a public profile, displaying identifying information, with a very large number of contacts) will encounter more online risk than those with fewer risky practices: this too was supported by the data; thus what matters for risk is how SNS are used, a useful point for awareness-raising initiatives. The fourth hypothesis stated that SNS users with more digital competence in using the internet will experience less harm associated with online risk. The data did not support this hypothesis, since digital competence did not reduce the probability of children saying that they have been bothered or upset by something on the internet. Finally, the study found that, although this had not been predicted, whether or not risks are experienced as harmful depends on the specific relation between risks and platforms (website, instant messaging, gaming or social networking). We call on future research to explore how particular affordances sustain particular communicative conditions and, in turn, are responded to differently by children. The research and policy implications of the findings are discussed.     

Who interacts on the Web?: The intersection of users’ personality and social media use

In the increasingly user-generated Web, users’ personality traits may be crucial factors leading them to engage in this participatory media. The literature suggests factors such as extraversion, emotional stability and openness to experience are related to uses of social applications on the Internet. Using a national sample of US adults, this study investigated the relationship between these three dimensions of the Big-Five model and social media use (defined as use of social networking sites and instant messages). It also examined whether gender and age played a role in that dynamic. Results revealed that while extraversion and openness to experiences were positively related to social media use, emotional stability was a negative predictor, controlling for socio-demographics and life satisfaction. These findings differed by gender and age. While extraverted men and women were both likely to be more frequent users of social media tools, only the men with greater degrees of emotional instability were more regular users. The relationship between extraversion and social media use was particularly important among the young adult cohort. Conversely, being open to new experiences emerged as an important personality predictor of social media use for the more mature segment of the sample.     

Internet inequality: The relationship between high school students’ Internet use in different locations and their Internet self-efficacy

This research study utilized the framework of digital inequality proposed by DiMaggio and Hargittai (2001) to examine the relationships among the subdimensions of Internet inequality and their outcomes. We firstly investigated the relationships between constructs of technical apparatus, autonomy of use, availability of social support, variation of use at different locations of Internet access (school, home, Internet cafe, and combinations of these locations) and Internet self-efficacy (ISE). Then the relationships between ISE and high school students' exploratory behavior and academic were also investigated. The survey was developed from reliable instruments used in previous research to measure the following variables: Internet Self-Efficacy, Internet accessibility at home and school, exploratory behaviors, academic performance, study use, leisure use, parents influence, superior influence, and training support. Internet access at the Internet café, gender, and self-reported academic achievement were added to the student survey.Bivariate correlation and regression statistical analyses were conducted to find significant relationships among these variables. ANOVA statistical analysis was used to find significant differences among groups. Significant findings indicated that digital inequality in Internet existed in school, home and Internet café and students with Internet access at home had the highest level of ISE.Our study also showed that different dimension of Internet inequality had different relationships with ISE. Home Internet accessibility positively related to ISE. Availability of social support from school had a greater effect than that from home as parents influence did not associate with ISE. And last, the variation of use was also related to ISE. Leisure use at Internet café, leisure use at home and study use at home positively associated with ISE. In addition, at home and Internet café, the relationship between leisure use and ISE was stronger than that between study use and ISE. As to the outcome of ISE, high levels of ISE were positively related to exploratory behaviors, and for those students who used the Internet at school and home, higher ISE related to better academic performance.     

Does culture influence m-banking use and individual performance?

We show evidence on the influence of culture on m-banking use and individual performance, by using a combination of the task-technology fit (TTF) model and two of Hofstede’s cross-cultural dimension scales: uncertainty avoidance and individualism. On the basis of a sample of 204 m-banking users, we show that individualism moderates the relationship between TTF and use, and uncertainty avoidance moderates the relationship between TTF and individual performance. The remaining constructs, which represent the core of the TTF model, can still empirically explain TTF, use, and individual performance of m-banking. Strategies grounded in these factors are suggested for m-banking service providers to better attract and retain users.     

Does your code need comment?

Code comments convey information about the programmers' intention in a more explicit but less rigorous manner than source code. This information can assist programmers in various tasks, such as code comprehension, reuse, and maintenance. To better understand the properties of the comments existing in the source code, we analyzed more than 450 000 comments across 136 popular open-source software systems coming different domains. We found that the methods involving header comments and internal comments were shown low percentages in software systems, ie, 4.4% and 10.27%, respectively. As an application of our findings, we propose an automatic approach to determine whether a method needs a header comment, known as commenting necessity identification. Specifically, we identify the important factors for determining the commenting necessity of a method and extract them as structural features, syntactic features, and textual features. Then, by applying machine learning techniques and noise-handling techniques, we achieve a precision of 88.5% on eight open-source software from GitHub. The encouraging experimental results demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of our approach.     

Relationship between consumer’s preference and service attributes in mobile telecommunication service

The mobile telecommunication sector is increasing, thus becoming a key area for economic development in global and local markets. One of potential ways to promote competition among service providers is to introduce a mobile number portability (MNP) service. Consumer preferences are estimated using conjoint analysis. Results indicate that subscribers do not consider the MNP service an import attribute, while price and service quality are the most valuable attributes. The results of this study provide important information to implement the first service launch in mobile telecommunication and other similar information and communication technology (ICT) services.     

Less effortful thinking leads to more social networking? The associations between the use of social network sites and personality traits

Social network sites (SNS) have become an important social milieu that enables interpersonal communication by allowing users to share and create information. This study explored the associations between SNS use and personality traits, i.e., need for cognition (NFC) and information and communication technology (ICT) innovativeness. The findings showed that the SNS use had a negative association with NFC and a positive association with ICT innovativeness. Specifically, people who were more likely to engage in effortful thinking used SNS less often, and those who were high in ICT innovativeness used SNS more often. Meanwhile, those who spent more time on SNS were more likely to be multitaskers. Additionally, those who spent more time on SNS also spent more Internet time in general, more online time for study/work and more time in surfing the Web with no specific purpose. This study, which could be a first look at the link between social networking and our thinking, provides evidence for the associations between social media use and personality traits.     

Relationship between Meaning and Expression in Architecture Design

During the evolvement of architecture, the research on architectural form and structure as well as different ways to express and realize architectural thoughts is constantly the focus of many architects. This paper illustrates the mutual influence of the ways of expression and design of architecture to people's understanding of the meaning of architecture throughout the history of their efforts and exploration. The paper also discusses the extensive usage of virtual-reality approach through computer technology. It points out that the traditional architectural standpoint will undergo breakthrough by the emergence of new expression and design method. In this way, people's understanding of architecture will be more profound and lasting.     

Parent–adolescent communication,parental Internet use and Internet-specific norms and pathological Internet use among Chinese adolescents

Data were collected from 3556 Chinese junior and senior high school students to explore the associations between adolescent pathological Internet use (PIU) and parental variables, including parent–adolescent communication, parental Internet use and parental Internet-specific norms regarding adolescent Internet use. In particular, this study considered the different role of parental variables under two conditions: parental norms that were consistent or inconsistent with parents’ Internet use behaviors. The participants were asked to answer an anonymous questionnaire that included all mentioned factors. The results revealed an 11% rate of adolescent PIU, and hierarchical multiple regressions indicated that parent–adolescent communication predicted PIU negatively under both conditions. When parental norms were consistent with their Internet use behaviors, parental norms predicted adolescent PIU negatively; conversely, when parental norms were inconsistent with their Internet use behaviors, parental behaviors predicted adolescent PIU positively. Implications for family-based prevention and the limitations of this study are discussed.     

Is Facebook creating “iDisorders”? The link between clinical symptoms of psychiatric disorders and technology use,attitudes and anxiety

This study systematically tested whether the use of specific technologies or media (including certain types of Facebook use), technology-related anxieties, and technology-related attitudes (including multitasking preference) would predict clinical symptoms of six personality disorders (schizoid, narcissistic, antisocial, compulsive, paranoid and histrionic) and three mood disorders (major depression, dysthymia and bipolar-mania). In addition, the study examined the unique contributions of technology uses after factoring out demographics, anxiety and attitudes. Teens, young adults and adults (N = 1143) completed an anonymous, online questionnaire that assessed these variables. Each disorder had a unique set of predictors with 17 of the 22 significant predictors being Facebook general use, impression management and friendship. More Facebook friends predicted more clinical symptoms of bipolar-mania, narcissism and histrionic personality disorder but fewer symptoms of dysthymia and schizoid personality disorder. Technology-related attitudes and anxieties significantly predicted clinical symptoms of the disorders. After factoring out attitudes and anxiety, Facebook and selected technology uses predicted clinical symptoms with Facebook use, impression management and friendship being the best predictors. The results showed both positive and negative aspects of technology including social media as well as apparently detrimental effects of a preference for multitasking.     

Does Employee Relationship Quality Influence Employee Well‐Being? An Empirical Analysis Based on Manufacturing and Service Industries

This study developed employee well‐being (EWB) and employee‐relationship scales (including six parts, employee‐superior, employee‐subordinate, employee‐organization, employee‐coworker, employee‐family, and employee‐friend) through considering the management situation in China and the integrity of the construct. According to an empirical analysis based on manufacturing and service industries (N = 571), this study explored the influence of employee relationship quality (ERQ) on EWB through Pearson correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis. According to the results, in terms of relationships inside work, the dimensions of all ERQ types had positive correlations with EWB. The degree of stability of a relationship outside work, such as employee‐family and the employee‐friend, was found to have negative effects on EWB. Regardless of whether they are general employees or leadership employees, the employee‐superior relationship was the principal factor that influenced EWB. These results provide new insights into employee relationship management and EWB promotion.     

Perceived fit between green IS and green SCM: Does it matter?

From a task-technology fit perspective, green SCM and green IS are likely to have synergistic effects on corporate sustainability. Yet, the exact mechanisms through which their perceived alignment by employees may exert influences on organizational performances are unclear. This study captures potential enablement and coverage routes at different development stages of sustainability with fit-as-mediation and fit-as-moderation, respectively. The results based on the observations collected from more than 400 organizations in the USA and China suggest that the perceived fit gradually shifts from a moderator role to a mediator role as the two green endeavors integrate with each other.     

Relationship between triangular decoupling and invertibility of linear multivariate systems†

For linear multivariable systems, which have square transfer function matrices, the necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of state feedback laws for triangular decoupling are shown to be equivalent to the conditions of invertibility. A procedure of finding a state feedback law for this purpose is also given.     

Exploring the positive side of personal internet use at work: Does it help in managing the border between work and nonwork?

Many employees use the internet at work for personal reasons, and it has been suggested that this behavior can be understood as an attempt to manage the border between work and nonwork. Using data from 190 office workers, the study aims to test how well work/family border theory can explain personal internet use. The results only partly support work/family border theory, as only the amount of private demands and identification with work at work were significant predictors of personal internet use (which was found to be unrelated to work–nonwork balance). These findings suggest that work/family border theory offers only a limited perspective for the explanation of why people use the internet at work for personal business.     

‘Disruptive technologies’, ‘pedagogical innovation’: What’s new? Findings from an in-depth study of students’ use and perception of technology

The paper describes the findings from a study of students’ use and experience of technologies. A series of in-depth case studies were carried out across four subject disciplines, with data collected via survey, audio logs and interviews. The findings suggest that students are immersed in a rich, technology-enhanced learning environment and that they select and appropriate technologies to their own personal learning needs. The findings have profound implications for the way in which educational institutions design and support learning activities.     

Internet use and developmental tasks: Adolescents’ point of view

This study explored adolescents’ opinions about how Internet use supports the achievement of their developmental tasks. Qualitative data were collected in focus groups interviews with 127 Italian Internet users (11–20) attending middle and high schools. Discussions were recorded, transcribed and analyzed using content analysis. Results showed that the Internet plays important functions in identity formation, personal autonomy, and relationships outside the family. It allows teens to develop their own interests, to identify with others and, at the same time, differentiate from others. The Internet is also an arena in which adolescents develop and practice autonomy. The Internet can be a source of conflict with parents, because of parents’ concerns about Internet use. However, the Internet can also be a meeting ground with parents. Finally, participants indicated the Internet is used to form close relationships with peers. Gender and age differences are discussed. Although the study is cross-sectional and relies only on adolescent report, findings illustrate how the conceptual framework of developmental goals may be helpful for understanding how the Internet can affect adolescents’ lives.     

Subjective well-being and social media use: Do personality traits moderate the impact of social comparison on Facebook?

The purpose of the study was to explore whether personality traits moderate the association between social comparison on Facebook and subjective well-being, measured as both life satisfaction and eudaimonic well-being. Data were collected via an online questionnaire which measured Facebook use, social comparison behavior and personality traits for 337 respondents. The results showed positive associations between Facebook intensity and both measures of subjective well-being, and negative associations between Facebook social comparison and both measures of subjective well-being. Personality traits were assessed by the Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory personality questionnaire, which revealed that Reward Interest was positively associated with eudaimonic well-being, and Goal-Drive Persistence was positively associated with both measures of subjective well-being. Impulsivity was negatively associated with eudaimonic well-being and the Behavioral Inhibition System was negatively associated with both measures of subjective well-being. Interactions between personality traits and social comparison on Facebook indicated that for respondents with high Goal-Drive Persistence, Facebook social comparison had a positive association with eudaimonic well-being, thus confirming that some personality traits moderate the association between Facebook social comparison and subjective well-being. The results of this study highlight how individual differences in personality may impact how social comparison on Facebook affects individuals’ subjective well-being.     

What makes them happy and curious online? An empirical study on high school students’ Internet use from a self-determination theory perspective

From a self-determination theory perspective, this study tries to investigate how perceived autonomy support, perceived relatedness and competence affect high school students’ intrinsic motivations (enjoyment and curiosity) to use the Internet, and the related outcomes of the motivation. Surveys are distributed to seven junior and ten senior high schools in a prefectural-level city in central China. Existing instruments from previous research are adapted to measure the following constructs: teacher support, parental support, peer influence, Internet self-efficacy, enjoyment, curiosity, flow state and online exploratory behavior. Finally, 3475 valid responses are collected.