Assessment of the impact of extraversion on depression, distraction and knowledge absorption capacity in online learning education

Purpose As different countries are witnessing a surge in online course enrollments, the purpose of this study is to examine the impact of different stressors and strains on the continuity of online classes for understanding learner behavior. While extroverts are more talkative, sociable and open than introverts, it is necessary to understand the impact of extraversion personality traits on leaners’ distraction, depression and knowledge absorption capacity (KAC) in online learning scenarios. This will help to curate the content to cater to such students. Additionally, it will be interesting to examine how these effects change when the frequency and duration of classes are increased or decreased. Research on such aspects is scarce, highlighting a critical gap in the literature, which this study tries to address. Design/methodology/approach A quantitative-based survey was adopted for collecting data from Indian students. About 482 responses received in the survey were analyzed through the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) technique. Findings Findings suggest a significant positive effect of extraversion on both distraction and depression. Depression had a significant negative impact on KAC. The frequency of classes had a significant moderating effect on the relationship between extraversion and distraction. Additionally, the duration of classes had a significant moderating effect on the association between distraction and KAC. Originality/value Limited studies have attempted to examine the impact of personality (extraversion) on depression, distraction and finally KAC in the online education context. This study aims to add value to existing literature by addressing this gap.