Abstract
Nowadays, people are increasingly using social networking sites to initiate and maintain friendships, obtain social support and gather data. Personal traits could potentially drive people to join social networking sites as well as indulge in other related behaviors. This study aims to examine whether people with the need for affiliation, narcissism, self- esteem and communication apprehension are more likely to join social networking sites. Data for the current study were collected using convenience sampling; the sample consisted of undergraduate students studying at three private universities in Tehran, Iran. We used IBM SPSS 20 to run logistic regression statistics to test the research hypotheses developed for this study based on the responses from 284 respondents. The results of this study reveal that self-esteem, communication apprehension and the need for affiliation are significant predictors for social networking site usage while narcissism is not.
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JEL classification: L20
Appendix A
Appendix A
Self-esteem
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1)
I feel that I am a person of worth, at least on an equal plane with others.
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2)
I feel that I have a number of good qualities.
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3)
All in all, I am inclined to feel that I am a failure.
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4)
I am able to do things as well as most other people.
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5)
I take a positive attitude toward myself.
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6)
On the whole, I am satisfied with myself.
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7)
I wish I could have more respect for myself.
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8)
I certainly feel useless at times.
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9)
At times, I think I am no good at all.
Narcissism
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1)
I know that I am good because everybody keeps telling me so.
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2)
I like to be the center of attention.
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3)
I think I am a special person.
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4)
I like having authority over people.
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5)
I am apt to show off if I get the chance.
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6)
I expect a great deal from other people.
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7)
I am going to be a great person.
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8)
I am more capable than other people.
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9)
I am an extraordinary person.
Need for affiliation
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1)
I like to go to places and settings with lots of people.
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2)
In my leisure time, I prefer to do things together with others.
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3)
I cannot stand being alone.
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4)
I really prefer to stay as short a time as possible at occasions where there are lots of people.
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5)
It sounds awful to have a job in which you are alone in a room the whole day.
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6)
I find it stressful to have people around me constantly.
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7)
I like to talk to others.
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8)
I love teamwork.
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9)
I don’t like to undertake something totally on my own.
Communication apprehension
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1)
Social interaction makes me anxious.
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2)
I experience anxiety when I communicate with people in social settings.
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3)
I tend to be very apprehensive while communicating in social situations.
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4)
Social interaction is the best part of my day.
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5)
I seldom feel anxious in social situations.
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6)
I am outgoing when surrounded by a lot of people.
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7)
I can communicate with people in social settings without experiencing anxiety.
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Ahadzadeh, A., Sharif, S., Wei, K. et al. Narcissism, Self-esteem, Communication Apprehension, and Need for Affiliation: Difference between Social Networking Site Users and Non-users. Taylor's Bus Rev 4, 2 (2014). https://doi.org/10.7603/s40932-014-0002-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.7603/s40932-014-0002-z