Problematic instant messaging use amongst university students in Singapore

Abstract

This study marks the first empirical investigation of the problematic instant messaging use amongst university students in Singapore. It adapts Caplan’ s (2005) theoretical framework of problematic Internet Use (PIU) to the context of problematic instant messaging use by linking pre-existing human dispositions to cognitive-behavioral symptoms and negative outcomes of improper instant messaging use. Four new factors, namely, oral communication apprehension, polychronicity, perceived inconvenience of using offline communication means and trait procrastination were tested as predictors of problematic instant messaging use. The results from a survey conducted amongst 230 university students provided strong support for Caplan’s (2005) theoretical framework of PIU. Oral communication apprehension and perceived inconvenience of using offline means were significant predictors of problematic instant messaging use whereas polychronicity and trait procrastination were not. Lastly, the implications of these findings are discussed.