Association between Selfie Addiction and Narcissistic Tendencies among Students at the University of Karbala: A Cross-Sectional Study
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Objective: The frequent taking of selfies in universities has garnered increasing research attention due to its potential association with specific personality traits. This study aims to explore the association between narcissistic tendencies and selfie addiction among Iraqi university students and to determine the extent to which narcissistic tendencies contribute to explaining the variation in addiction levels.
Methods and Materials: A descriptive cross-sectional correlational design was used to assess 418 undergraduate students from the University of Karbala during the 2025-2026 academic year, using a convenience sampling method. Data were collected via a questionnaire that included demographic characteristics, a narcissistic personality scale, and a selfie addiction scale. Statistical analyses were performed using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient and simple linear regression after ensuring the data's suitability for parametric and non-parametric tests.
Findings: The results showed that 8.6% of participants met the criteria for selfie addiction, while 58.1% exhibited moderate levels of narcissism. A statistically significant positive correlation was found between narcissistic tendencies and selfie addiction (r=0.513, p<0.01). Furthermore, the regression model indicated that narcissistic tendencies explained 34.3% of the variance in selfie addiction (R²=0.343, β=0.586). The inference results did not show statistically significant differences attributable to demographic variables in this sample.
Conclusion: The findings suggest a strong association between narcissistic tendencies and compulsive selfie-taking behavior, potentially reflecting a need for self-affirmation through digital means. However, these results are limited to a sample from a single university and rely on self-report methodology, warranting caution when generalizing.
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