Associate Professor, Cosmopolitan's Valia College, D.N. Nagar, Andheri(West), Mumbai, 40005
Online published on 22 June, 2018.
The mobile phone as a technological device has become a part and parcel of our life. Some researchers consider young people's obsession with mobile phones as a form of addiction while others prefer to use milder terms like involvement. Mobile phone usage is influenced by factors like gender, age and personality traits
This study aims at investigating gender differences in mobile phone use and involvement among college students. It also aims at exploring the impact of two personality variables namely self esteem and need to belong on mobile phone involvement
The study conducted on 250 college students(125 male and 125 female)uses questionnaires to measure mobile phone involvement, (Walsh, et.al, 2008) self-esteem (Rosenberg, 1965) and Need to Belong(Learyet.al 1995).Data is also gathered about 6 parameters of mobile phone use
Findings indicated that mobile phone use is higher among male subjects than female subjects. However there are no significant gender differences in mobile phone involvement. Further need to belong is found to be a significant factor in influencing mobile phone involvement in both males and females but self esteem does not have significant effects
Results lend only partial support to the idea that there are gender differences in mobile phone use. Need to belong is an important predictor of mobile phone involvement.
Gender, Mobile phone involvement, Need to belong, Self esteem
