Social networking addiction, attachment style, and validation of the Italian version of the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale

Aim Research into social networking addiction has greatly increased over the last decade. However, the number of validated instruments assessing addiction to social networking sites (SNSs) remains few, and none have been validated in the Italian language. Consequently, this study tested the psychometric properties of the Italian version of the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS), as well as providing empirical data concerning the relationship between attachment styles and SNS addiction. Methods A total of 769 participants were recruited to this study. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and multigroup analyses were applied to assess construct validity of the Italian version of the BSMAS. Reliability analyses comprised the average variance extracted, the standard error of measurement, and the factor determinacy coefficient. Results Indices obtained from the CFA showed the Italian version of the BSMAS to have an excellent fit of the model to the data, thus confirming the single-factor structure of the instrument. Measurement invariance was established at configural, metric, and strict invariances across age groups, and at configural and metric levels across gender groups. Internal consistency was supported by several indicators. In addition, the theoretical associations between SNS addiction and attachment styles were generally supported. Conclusion This study provides evidence that the Italian version of the BSMAS is a psychometrically robust tool that can be used in future Italian research into social networking addiction.

[1]  J. Gorman.  Sadness and Depression , 2018, Oxford Medicine Online.

[2]  M. Griffiths,et al.  Exploring Individual Differences in Online Addictions: the Role of Identity and Attachment , 2017, International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction.

[3]  M. Griffiths,et al.  Validation of the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale – Short-Form (IGDS9-SF) in an Italian-speaking sample , 2016, Journal of behavioral addictions.

[4]  M. Griffiths,et al.  Portuguese Validation of the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale: an Empirical Study , 2016, International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction.

[5]  A. Phatak,et al.  Developing and pilot testing of a tool for "clinicosocial case study" assessment of community medicine residents , 2016, Education for health.

[6]  Mark D. Griffiths,et al.  Portuguese Validation of the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short-Form , 2016, Cyberpsychology Behav. Soc. Netw..

[7]  Jih-Hsuan Lin,et al.  Need for relatedness: a self-determination approach to examining attachment styles, Facebook use, and psychological well-being , 2016 .

[8]  M. Brand,et al.  Addictive use of social networking sites can be explained by the interaction of Internet use expectancies, Internet literacy, and psychopathological symptoms , 2015, Journal of behavioral addictions.

[9]  P. Maurage,et al.  Are we overpathologizing everyday life? A tenable blueprint for behavioral addiction research , 2015, Journal of behavioral addictions.

[10]  C. S. Andreassen.  Online Social Network Site Addiction: A Comprehensive Review , 2015, Current Addiction Reports.

[11]  George Y. Bizer,et al.  Attachment theory as a framework for explaining engagement with Facebook , 2015 .

[12]  Mark D. Griffiths,et al.  Measuring DSM-5 internet gaming disorder: Development and validation of a short psychometric scale , 2015, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[13]  Jih-Hsuan Lin,et al.  The Role of Attachment Style in Facebook Use and Social Capital: Evidence from University Students and a National Sample , 2015, Cyberpsychology Behav. Soc. Netw..

[14]  M. Phanasathit,et al.  Validation of the Thai version of Bergen Facebook addiction scale (Thai-BFAS). . , 2015, Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand = Chotmaihet thangphaet.

[15]  C. Chan,et al.  Exploring personality characteristics of Chinese adolescents with internet-related addictive behaviors: trait differences for gaming addiction and social networking addiction. , 2015, Addictive behaviors.

[16]  Jacob Goldenberg,et al.  Social relationships and information dissemination in virtual social network systems: An attachment theory perspective , 2014, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[17]  E. Rom,et al.  The Role of Adult Attachment Style in Online Social Network Affect, Cognition, and Behavior  , 2014, Journal of Psychology and Psychotherapy Research.

[18]  M. Griffiths.  Social Networking Addiction: Emerging Themes and Issues , 2013 .

[19]  Adriano Schimmenti,et al.  Insecure Attachment Attitudes in the Onset of Problematic Internet Use Among Late Adolescents , 2013, Child Psychiatry & Human Development.

[20]  E. Walker,et al.  Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , 2013 .

[21]  Rachel Kowert,et al.  Attachment style, social skills, and Facebook use amongst adults , 2013, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[22]  M. Griffiths,et al.  The relationships between behavioral addictions and the five-factor model of personality. , 2013, Journal of behavioral addictions.

[23]  A. Wu,et al.  Psychological risk factors of addiction to social networking sites among Chinese smartphone users , 2013, Journal of behavioral addictions.

[24]  Hae-Young Kim.  Statistical notes for clinical researchers: assessing normal distribution (2) using skewness and kurtosis , 2013, Restorative dentistry & endodontics.

[25]  M. Kaess,et al.  Prevalence of pathological internet use among adolescents in Europe: demographic and social factors. , 2012, Addiction.

[26]  Michael A. Jenkins-Guarnieri,et al.  The Relationships among Attachment Style, Personality Traits, Interpersonal Competency, and Facebook Use , 2012 .

[27]  C. Su,et al.  Psychometric comparisons of three measures for assessing motor functions in preschoolers with intellectual disabilities. , 2012, Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDR.

[28]  C. S. Andreassen,et al.  Development of a Facebook Addiction Scale , 2012, Psychological reports.

[29]  Mark D Griffiths,et al.  Facebook Addiction: Concerns, Criticism, and Recommendations—A Response to Andreassen and Colleagues , 2012, Psychological reports.

[30]  Rachel A. Elphinston,et al.  Time to Face It! Facebook Intrusion and the Implications for Romantic Jealousy and Relationship Satisfaction , 2011, Cyberpsychology Behav. Soc. Netw..

[31]  M. Griffiths,et al.  Online Social Networking and Addiction—A Review of the Psychological Literature , 2011, International journal of environmental research and public health.

[32]  R. LaRose,et al.  Social Networking: Addictive, Compulsive, Problematic, or Just Another Media Habit? , 2010 .

[33]  Soraya Mehdizadeh,et al.  Self-Presentation 2.0: Narcissism and Self-Esteem on Facebook , 2010, Cyberpsychology Behav. Soc. Netw..

[34]  Katherine M. White,et al.  The Theory of Planned Behavior Applied to Young People's Use of Social Networking Web Sites , 2009, Cyberpsychology Behav. Soc. Netw..

[35]  Katherine M. White,et al.  Psychological Predictors of Young Adults' Use of Social Networking Sites , 2009, Cyberpsychology Behav. Soc. Netw..

[36]  Sandra L. Calvert,et al.  College students' social networking experiences on Facebook , 2009 .

[37]  Valerie Barker,et al.  Older Adolescents' Motivations for Social Network Site Use: The Influence of Gender, Group Identity, and Collective Self-Esteem , 2009, Cyberpsychology Behav. Soc. Netw..

[38]  Laura E. Buffardi,et al.  Narcissism and Social Networking Web Sites , 2008, Personality & social psychology bulletin.

[39]  F. Chen.  Sensitivity of Goodness of Fit Indexes to Lack of Measurement Invariance , 2007 .

[40]  P. Shaver,et al.  Attachment in Adulthood: Structure, Dynamics, and Change , 2007 .

[41]  M. Griffiths.  A ‘components’ model of addiction within a biopsychosocial framework , 2005 .

[42]  B. Pennell,et al.  Survey Questionnaire Translation and Assessment , 2004 .

[43]  Timothy A Brown,et al.  Confirmatory factor analysis of the Penn State Worry Questionnaire: Multiple factors or method effects? , 2003, Behaviour research and therapy.

[44]  Andrea Fossati,et al.  On the Dimensionality of the Attachment Style Questionnaire in Italian Clinical and Nonclinical Participants , 2003 .

[45]  Gordon W. Cheung,et al.  Evaluating Goodness-of-Fit Indexes for Testing Measurement Invariance , 2002 .

[46]  M. Griffiths.  Internet Addiction - Time to be Taken Seriously? , 2000 .

[47]  R. Vandenberg,et al.  A Review and Synthesis of the Measurement Invariance Literature: Suggestions, Practices, and Recommendations for Organizational Research , 2000 .

[48]  K. Bartholomew.  Avoidance of Intimacy: An Attachment Perspective , 1990 .

[49]  C. Hazan,et al.  Romantic love conceptualized as an attachment process. , 1987, Journal of personality and social psychology.

[50]  W. Hays.  Using Multivariate Statistics , 1983 .

[51]  P. Bentler,et al.  Significance Tests and Goodness of Fit in the Analysis of Covariance Structures , 1980 .

[52]  G. W. Rever.  Attachment and Loss. Vol. 1. Attachment , 1972 .

[53]  J. Bowlby.  Attachment and loss: retrospect and prospect. , 1969, The American journal of orthopsychiatry.

[54]  M. Griffiths,et al.  The relationship between addictive use of social media, narcissism, and self-esteem: Findings from a large national survey. , 2017, Addictive behaviors.

[55]  Andreas Ritter,et al.  Structural Equations With Latent Variables , 2016 .

[56]  Diana Adler,et al.  Using Multivariate Statistics , 2016 .

[57]  Maria Sinatra,et al.  Identity Styles and Internet - Related Addictive Behaviors in Adolescents , 2016 .

[58]  M. Griffiths,et al.  The relationship between addictive use of social media and video games and symptoms of psychiatric disorders: A large-scale cross-sectional study. , 2016, Psychology of addictive behaviors : journal of the Society of Psychologists in Addictive Behaviors.

[59]  M. Carter.  Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th ed. , 2014 .

[60]  Griffiths.  Facebook addiction: concerns, criticisms and recommendations , 2012 .

[61]  Griffiths,et al.  Excessive online social networking: Can adolescents become addicted to Facebook? , 2011 .

[62]  D. Karaiskos,et al.  P02-232 - Social Network Addiction : a New Clinical Disorder? , 2010, European Psychiatry.

[63]  Rolph E. Anderson,et al.  Multivariate Data Analysis (7th ed. , 2009 .

[64]  B. Tabachnick,et al.  Using multivariate statistics, 5th ed. , 2007 .

[65]  Sarah F Tyson MSc Mcsp.  Measurement and Evaluation in Human Performance , 2000 .

[66]  P. Bentler,et al.  Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis : Conventional criteria versus new alternatives , 1999 .

[67]  P. Bentler,et al.  Covariance structure analysis: statistical practice, theory, and directions. , 1996, Annual review of psychology.

[68]  J. Bowlby.  Separation: Anxiety and Anger , 1973 .