Exploring the effects of demographic factors, Internet usage and personality traits on Internet addiction in a sample of Italian university students

•Data from Italian university students, Internet usage and Big Five were collected.•Study explored the effect of the Internet addiction disorder among Italian university students.•Study results indicated that a few students showed a moderate level of addiction.•Multiple regression outcomes displayed that some personality traits were predictors of Internet addiction.•Agreeableness and Extraversion were negatively related to Internet addiction.

Despite increasing interest in Internet addiction disorder, especially among high school students, few investigations have been oriented towards exploring the potential risks associated with an overuse of the Internet for the university population. A sample of 190 Italian university students was selected to investigate the effects of demographic profile, Internet usage and the Big Five personality traits on Internet addiction. Results indicated that none of the enrolled students showed a high level of addiction, although moderate behavioural disorder was found. The multiple linear regression findings displayed that males were more inclined to use the Internet than females, and some students’ behaviours were predictors of Internet addiction. Moreover, personality traits such as Agreeableness and Extraversion were negatively related to Internet addiction, whereas Openness was positively associated. These results highlight that several factors may predispose university students to developing problematic behaviour connected with an excessive use of the Internet.