Smartphone connectivity stress across generations: Validation of a brief scale for adolescents and adults

Research into problematic smartphone use is growing as people are increasingly dependent on technological connections – a situation highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, current research has been limited by measurement validity issues and a lack of construct clarity. In response, this s...

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Autores principales: Cherie A. Clark, Keith M. Harris
Formato: article
Lenguaje:EN
Publicado: Elsevier 2021
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Acceso en línea:https://doaj.org/article/712408d0898c4dba8120bf0c47f32a80
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spelling oai:doaj.org-article:712408d0898c4dba8120bf0c47f32a802021-12-01T05:04:05ZSmartphone connectivity stress across generations: Validation of a brief scale for adolescents and adults2451-958810.1016/j.chbr.2021.100095https://doaj.org/article/712408d0898c4dba8120bf0c47f32a802021-01-01T00:00:00Zhttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2451958821000439https://doaj.org/toc/2451-9588Research into problematic smartphone use is growing as people are increasingly dependent on technological connections – a situation highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, current research has been limited by measurement validity issues and a lack of construct clarity. In response, this study developed and validated the Smartphone Connectivity Stress Scale (SCSS) for adolescents and adults. An online survey included an item pool, based on previous research and existing scales, as well as several psychosocial measures (N ​= ​814; aged 14–80 years; 59% female). Iterative exploratory factor analyses, classical test theory and item response theory (IRT) analyses produced a unidimensional six-item scale of smartphone connectivity stress – from a perceived obligation to be constantly connected with others. Two-week test-retest reliability was assessed through a follow up survey (n ​= ​190). SCSS factor structure and reliability were strong for adolescents (aged 14–18) and adults (aged 19–80). The SCSS demonstrated good internal consistency (α ​= ​0.87, ωt ​= ​0.91); test-retest reliability, r ​= ​0.82; and all items captured significant information across the latent trait. The SCSS demonstrated no differential item functioning by sex, age, ethnicity or urban/rural residence. The SCSS was positively correlated (ps ​< ​.001) with anxious attachment style and psychopathology symptoms (stress, anxiety, depression, suicidality). This is the first measure of smartphone connectivity stress and included valuable IRT analyses. The brief public domain SCSS provides reliable measurement, with reduced error, of a validated construct, and is suitable for use with adolescents and adults.Cherie A. ClarkKeith M. HarrisElsevierarticleSmartphone addictionConnectivityInformation technologyMental healthScale developmentProblematic phone useElectronic computers. Computer scienceQA75.5-76.95PsychologyBF1-990ENComputers in Human Behavior Reports, Vol 3, Iss , Pp 100095- (2021)
institution DOAJ
collection DOAJ
language EN
topic Smartphone addiction
Connectivity
Information technology
Mental health
Scale development
Problematic phone use
Electronic computers. Computer science
QA75.5-76.95
Psychology
BF1-990
spellingShingle Smartphone addiction
Connectivity
Information technology
Mental health
Scale development
Problematic phone use
Electronic computers. Computer science
QA75.5-76.95
Psychology
BF1-990
Cherie A. Clark
Keith M. Harris
Smartphone connectivity stress across generations: Validation of a brief scale for adolescents and adults
description Research into problematic smartphone use is growing as people are increasingly dependent on technological connections – a situation highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, current research has been limited by measurement validity issues and a lack of construct clarity. In response, this study developed and validated the Smartphone Connectivity Stress Scale (SCSS) for adolescents and adults. An online survey included an item pool, based on previous research and existing scales, as well as several psychosocial measures (N ​= ​814; aged 14–80 years; 59% female). Iterative exploratory factor analyses, classical test theory and item response theory (IRT) analyses produced a unidimensional six-item scale of smartphone connectivity stress – from a perceived obligation to be constantly connected with others. Two-week test-retest reliability was assessed through a follow up survey (n ​= ​190). SCSS factor structure and reliability were strong for adolescents (aged 14–18) and adults (aged 19–80). The SCSS demonstrated good internal consistency (α ​= ​0.87, ωt ​= ​0.91); test-retest reliability, r ​= ​0.82; and all items captured significant information across the latent trait. The SCSS demonstrated no differential item functioning by sex, age, ethnicity or urban/rural residence. The SCSS was positively correlated (ps ​< ​.001) with anxious attachment style and psychopathology symptoms (stress, anxiety, depression, suicidality). This is the first measure of smartphone connectivity stress and included valuable IRT analyses. The brief public domain SCSS provides reliable measurement, with reduced error, of a validated construct, and is suitable for use with adolescents and adults.
format article
author Cherie A. Clark
Keith M. Harris
author_facet Cherie A. Clark
Keith M. Harris
author_sort Cherie A. Clark
title Smartphone connectivity stress across generations: Validation of a brief scale for adolescents and adults
title_short Smartphone connectivity stress across generations: Validation of a brief scale for adolescents and adults
title_full Smartphone connectivity stress across generations: Validation of a brief scale for adolescents and adults
title_fullStr Smartphone connectivity stress across generations: Validation of a brief scale for adolescents and adults
title_full_unstemmed Smartphone connectivity stress across generations: Validation of a brief scale for adolescents and adults
title_sort smartphone connectivity stress across generations: validation of a brief scale for adolescents and adults
publisher Elsevier
publishDate 2021
url https://doaj.org/article/712408d0898c4dba8120bf0c47f32a80
work_keys_str_mv AT cherieaclark smartphoneconnectivitystressacrossgenerationsvalidationofabriefscaleforadolescentsandadults
AT keithmharris smartphoneconnectivitystressacrossgenerationsvalidationofabriefscaleforadolescentsandadults
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