Study of Adolescents’ Introversion-Extraversion Traits, Need for Belongingness and Indulgence in Social Networking

The present study was undertaken on undergraduate adolescents to gain an insight into the relationship between Introversion-Extraversion, Social Networking Intensity and Need for Belongingness. In order to measure the Social Networking Intensity, the amount of usage of Facebook was measured, since it is the most widely used social networking website. To study these variables purposive sampling was done taking 100 undergraduate students. Questionnaires were administered which gavemeasures on adolescents’ Need for Belongingness, Social Networking Intensity and Introversion, Extraversion trait. The results showed that the adolescents were moderate in their Need for Belongingness. In terms of Introversion-Extraversion they were again moderately placed there by implying that this trait was changing according to contextual factors. Further, they also exhibited only moderate need to indulge in Social Networking. The correlation measures between Social Networking Intensity with IntroversionExtroversion and Need to Belongingness were moderate yet significant. It implies that to some extent social networking intensity is getting influenced by Need for Belongingness and Introversion-Extroversion. t-test value showed that only the trait of Need for Belongingness and Social Networking Intensity differed significantly from each other. This implies that as the participants Need for Belongingness was situational bound, so was their need to access Social Networking sites. It also indicates that the adolescent would be more keen to establish a closer face-to-face interaction and relationship. The t test value between Introversion-Extraversion and Need for Belongingness was not significant. Also, Need for Belongingness did not differ significantly from Social Networking Intensity as indicated by the t test. This study refutes the popular belief that current adolescents are highly dependent on Social Networking to satisfy their Need for Belongingness and Affiliation. It also, questions the notion that due to peer pressure most adolescents are forced to become extroverts.