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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Main Authors:	Cherie A. Clark, Keith M. Harris
Format:	article
Language:	EN
Published:	Elsevier 2021
Subjects:	Smartphone addiction Connectivity Information technology Mental health Scale development Problematic phone use Electronic computers. Computer science QA75.5-76.95 Psychology BF1-990
Online Access:	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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Smartphone connectivity stress across generations: Validation of a brief scale for adolescents and adults

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