Computer Playfulness, Personal Innovativeness, and Problematic Technology Use: A New Measure and Some Initial Evidence

Considerable research in the technology adoption and use literature has focused on two user traits, i.e., computer playfulness and personal innovativeness with IT, and how they lead to various positive adoption and usage outcomes. However, little work to date has empirically investigated the possibility that these traits may also lead to undesirable usage outcomes. Building on recent psychology research on problematic technology use, this study fills this gap in the literature by testing these relationships with two samples. Data from 267 undergraduate students indicated that these user traits are indeed associated with problematic use, manifested as pathological dependency on technology (dependency) and procrastination and avoidance of social and occupational responsibilities (distraction). Preliminary results from a sample of 184 working adults are consistent with findings from the student sample. Implications of these findings are discussed.