The role of Personality characters in internet friendships (Chat)

Given the possible negative effects of virtual spaces including online chat rooms on teenagers, identification of predicting personality traits can be useful in drawing the attention to high risk groups and preventive measures. Therefore, this study was an attempt to identify the role of personality traits in internet friendships. In this descriptive, correlational research, 4000 Iranian high school students were selected through multi-stage cluster sampling, and were investigated by NEO personality traits inventory and internet and chat questionnaire. The results showed that the girls used chat rooms more than the boys did. Furthermore, there was a negative relationship between the degree of internet friendship, using chat rooms, and the personality traits neuroticism and agreement; there was significant negative relationship between the degree of internet friendship and the personality traits extroversion, openness to experience and dutifulness. Given the significant relationship between the positive degree of chat and personality traits extroversion and openness to experience, it can be said that virtual communication like online chat rooms can make up for real communication.