Development of a psychometrically sound internet addiction scale: a preliminary step.
The Internet Addiction Scale (IAS) is a self-report instrument based on the 7 Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.; American Psychiatric Association, 1994) substance dependence criteria and 2 additional criteria recommended by Griffiths (1998). The IAS was administered to 233 undergraduates along with 4 measures pertaining to loneliness and boredom proneness. An item reliability analysis reduced the initial scale from 36 to 31 items (with a Cronbach's alpha of .95). A principal-components analysis indicated that the IAS consisted mainly of one factor. Multiple regression analyses revealed that Family and Social Loneliness and Boredom Proneness were significantly correlated with the IAS; Family and Social Loneliness uniquely predicted IAS scores. No evidence for widespread Internet addiction was found.
Nichols
Laura A
LA
Department of Psychology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. z77az@unb.ca
Nicki
Richard
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D001887:Boredom; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008132:Loneliness / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D011594:Psychometrics; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012647:Self-Assessment