Impact of online gamers' personality traits on interdependence, network convergence, and continuance intention: Perspective of social exchange theory

We examined how personality traits are related to interdependence (INT) and network convergence (NC).Extraversion and openness are positively related to INT and NC.Conscientiousness is negatively related to INT and NC.Agreeableness is positively related to INT, while neuroticism is negatively related to INT. Interdependence and network convergence among users characterize strong online social networks and fuel continuance intention. However, little is known about what personality traits are related to interdependence and network convergence. This study answers this question by utilizing social exchange theory to develop the hypotheses. We survey 2212 online gamers and analyse the data with structural equation modelling. We find that extraversion and openness are positively related to interdependence and network convergence, while conscientiousness is negatively related to interdependence and network convergence. Moreover, agreeableness is positively related to interdependence, while neuroticism is negatively related to interdependence. Finally, both interdependence and network convergence are positively related to continuance intention. This study is the first to examine how personality traits are related to interdependence and network convergence, which fuel continuance intention of online gamers.

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