A Cross Sectional Study to assess the Prevalence of Internet addiction and its relationship with personality traits in Retirees in Chennai, TamilNadu

Background: Internet use has become increasingly common among older adults, including retirees. While digital engagement offers several benefits, excessive or poorly regulated use may lead to internet addiction, an issue that remains underexplored among the elderly, particularly in the Indian context. Objectives: This investigation seeks to determine the extent of internet addiction among retired elderly individuals and to analyze how different personality traits are related to internet use behavior in retired elderly in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Methods : An cross sectional study was carried out among 260 retired senior citizens residing in the urban field practice area of Sree Balaji medical college between November 2024 and November 2025. The study sample was assembled through purposive recruitment. Internet-related behavioral dependence was measured using the CIUS-7 instrument, and personality attributes were captured using the BFI-10 scale. Data handling and statistical evaluation were undertaken with SPSS version 22, employing summary statistics alongside analytical methods such as regression modeling and correlation testing. Results : In the study population, problematic patterns of internet use were identified in 33.9% of participants. Of these, 25.8% exhibited problematic internet use, while an additional 8.1% were classified as being at risk. Normal internet use behaviour was observed in 66.2% of the respondents. Significant associations with internet addiction were noted for variables such as age, marital status, level of education, prior occupation, income source and living arrangement. In contrast, no significant relationship was found with gender. Analysis of personality traits revealed that higher levels of neuroticism and openness to experience were linked with greater likelihood of internet addiction, whereas conscientiousness showed an inverse relationship. Extraversion and agreeableness were not found to have a statistically meaningful association with problematic internet use. Conclusion: Internet addiction was identified as a relevant concern among retired elderly individuals and was influenced by both sociodemographic factors and personality traits. Early identification of retirees at risk and promotion of balanced internet use may help support mental well-being and healthy digital engagement in later life.