Self-traits and motivations as antecedents of digital media flow and addiction: The Internet, mobile phones, and video games

• We examined the effects of self-traits and motivations on flow and addiction.
• Self-control most significantly affected both users’ flow and addiction.
• Pastime and self-presence exhibited significant associations with flow and addiction.
• The amount of time spent using media was significantly related to the flow and addiction.

In the context of a new paradigm of the media environment, this study aimed to explore levels of media consumption, self-traits and individual motivations as antecedents of media flow and addiction. Focusing specifically on the use of three prominent digital media forms—the Internet, video games, and mobile phones—this study identified four psychological factors—self-esteem, self-efficacy, self-control and dispositional media use motives—and examined the influence of each on media users’ experiences of flow and levels of addiction for each of the mediums considered. The results indicated that self-control most significantly affected both users’ flow and addiction in relation to their use of the Internet, video games, and mobile phones. In addition, two dimensions of dispositional media use motives, namely pastime and self-presence, exhibited significant associations with flow and addiction for users’ consumption of two or all three media types. As expected, the amount of time spent using media was significantly related to the flow and addiction associated with all digital media usage.