The impacts of personality traits, use intensity and features use of LinkedIn on bridging social capital

Abstract

This exploratory study examines the effects of LinkedIn users’ personality traits, use intensity, and LinkedIn feature usage patterns on their perceived gained bridging social capital. The data were gathered from a purposive sample of 301 LinkedIn users in mainland China. The results showed that subjects with agreeable personality traits who participate often in the LinkedIn platform to react to and follow professional information from companies perceived that they gained greater bridging social capital. As expected, subjects with extraverted and neurotic personalities were heavier users of LinkedIn and, in particular, they tended to use LinkedIn to react and follow professional information, self-promote expertise, and to engage in strategic professional network building. The implications of the study are also discussed.