Unemployment, Personality Traits, and the Use of Facebook: Does Online Social Support Influence Continuous Use?

Personality Traits

A summary of each of these personality traits is provided below.

Conscientiousness

Conscientiousness is defined as individual differences in the propensity to follow socially prescribed norms for impulse control, goal-directed, able to delay gratification, and to follow norms and rules (Roberts et al., 2009). People with high degree of conscientiousness are reliable and prompt. A number of studies have been conducted to gain insight into the characteristics of conscientiousness. Notable of the attributes of conscientiousness in extant literature are avoidance of work, organization, impulsivity, antisocial, cleanliness, industriousness, laziness, appearance, punctuality, formality, and responsibility. Searching for jobs and the success in finding one, is largely dependent on individual’s personality (Kanfer et al., 2001). Also, in the online platform, Giota and Kleftaras (2014) found a positive relationship between conscientiousness and online social support. Thus, it is argued that during period of unemployment, individuals are likely to turn to Facebook as an escape route to seek social support. It is thus hypothesized that:

• H1. Individuals with conscientious personality trait will respond positively to online social support in the period of unemployment.