Technophobia and personality subtypes in a sample of South African university students

This study examined levels of technophobia in a sample of 176 South African university students enrolled in first-year computing and psychology courses. Technophobia, which is described as negative psychological reactions towards technology, was assessed using Rosen and Well's Measuring Technophobia instruments. The levels of technophobia were correlated with each of the five dimensions (neuroticism, extroversion, openness, agreeableness, conscientiousness) of the NEO-Five Factor Inventory. The results indicate a positive correlation between technophobia and Neuroticism, and an inverse correlation between technophobia and Openness. Technophobia was found to be inversely correlated with computer experience, weakly correlated with age, but not associated with gender. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.