Abstract:

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study was to develop a scale that, by taking intensity of use into account, can be used to identify problematic smartphone usage. The reliability and validity of the proposed scale were also evaluated and it may be used in further epidemiological studies. METHODS: Participants of the study consisted of 1492 students studying at Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Turkey in 2016. The questionnaire included questions about the sociodemographic characteristics of the participants, the self-evaluation of smartphone addiction, and smartphone usage intensities and Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version. RESULTS: Participants of the study consisted of 1492 students aged 18-24, 48.26 % (n = 720) female, 51.74 % (n = 772) male. In order to develop the scale, all questions that are present in the current scale, named Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version, and questions about the intensity of smartphone usage were taken into exploratory factor analysis. As a result, the 10-item Problematic Smartphone Usage Scale was developed. The result of the exploratory factor analysis revealed that the scale had a three-factor structure consisting of usage intensity, daily life disturbance and withdrawal. The three factors explained 63.36 % of the total variance. As a result of the reliability analysis, Cronbach�s alpha coefficient of the scale was 0.81. Confirmatory factor analysis also confirmed the three-factor structure of the scale. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: As a result, the Problematic Smartphone Usage Scale is seen as a valid, reliable and effective scale for assessing problematic smartphone usage.

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