An Assessment of the Validity and Reliability of the Social-Media Addiction Screening Scale (S-MASS)

Objective: The excessive use of social media can lead to addiction among many vulnerable individuals. Hence, the utilization a valid and reliable screening test assess is warranted. Materials Methods: Social-Media Addiction Screening Scale (S-MASS) newly developed, self-report scale containing 16 items that three main components behavioral addiction: giving priority, impaired control, negative consequences. S-MASS reliability was measured using Cronbachs alpha. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) confirmatory (CFA) were employed factorial validity. A latent profile (LPA) also carried out identify classes problematic users. Results: In all, 5,068 participants aged 13 years recruited from five high schools an online survey. alpha for 0.90 (95% CI: 0.890.90), indicating excellent reliability. EFA CFA revealed good validity S-MASS. Based on LPA, classed as “lowrisk” (n = 1,227; 24.2%), “moderate-risk” 2,757; 54.4%), “high-risk” 1,084; 21.4%) key differences between these gender, age, necessity work, self-perception addiction, time spent media. Conclusion: addiction. criterion should be evaluated once formal diagnostic criteria become available.