Predisposing and Motivational Factors Related to Social Network Sites Use: Systematic Review

Social Network Sites (SNSs) have been defined as web services that allow creating a private or semiprivate profile. Through these services, adolescents, as well as adults, can maintain and create new relationships. In particular, adolescents can be considered the main users of these sites as they spend a lot of time on SNSs. In the use of SNSs individuals can exert greater control over the conversation and on the information shared, which is all associated with a desire for self-presentation. Moreover, the need for self-presentation is related to personality traits such as those of the Big-Five, namely Extraversion, Neuroticism, Openness to Experience, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness, also taking into account Emotional Stability, Introversion, Narcissism, and motivational aspects. The latter are usually linked to an underlying social purpose that might predispose an individual to the use of SNSs, with the intent of satisfying their particular needs, such as belongingness needs and interpersonal competency. Using a PRISMA method, the aim of this paper is to present a systematic review of the scientific literature regarding the predisposing factors related to the Big-Five personality traits and motivational aspects associated with SNSs use, for both adolescents and adults (aged between 12-55 years). A search ranging from 2007 to 2017 has been conducted through the academic database of Google Scholar and PsychInfo, in which the following terms were considered as well as their derivatives: predisposing factors, personality traits, Big Five Model, self-esteem, self-presentation, interpersonal competency, social network site, Facebook, motivation, Five factor Model, use, abuse, addiction. Standing a defined list of inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 9 papers were finally included in the review. Findings identify three main personality traits to be of greater value: Extraversion, Neuroticism and Openness to Experience. Extraversion was the one better predicting motivation and SNSs use, while the latter trait showed relevance for age differences. All three features further played a role in gender differences. The self-presentational motive, besides Extraversion, was also related to Narcissism, while the need to belong presented an association with Agreeableness and Neuroticism. Further underlining the social value behind SNSs use, people perceived interpersonal competency was related to the intensity of Facebook use. Limitations and suggestions for future research are underlined in the discussion