From addiction to pervasiveness: Validation of the Smartphone Pervasiveness Scale in Turkish adolescents

Abstract

The present study aimed to adapt the Smartphone Pervasiveness Scale (SPS) into Turkish and to examine its psychometric properties among Turkish adolescents. To this end, two studies were conducted. Study 1 explored the factor structure of the SPS through exploratory factor analysis (EFA), using data collected from 216 adolescents (Mage = 14.50, SD = 1.55). Study 2 employed confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with multi-group analysis (MGA) on a separate sample of 314 adolescents (Mage = 13.87, SD = 2.10) to confirm the factor structure of the SPS and to assess measurement invariance across gender. In addition, Study 2 examined the associations between SPS scores and several external variables—problematic smartphone use, well-being, loneliness, psychological distress, and academic performance—as evidence of criterion-related validity. In both studies, Cronbach's alpha and composite reliability (CR) coefficients were calculated to assess reliability. EFA results in Study 1 supported a 7-item, single-factor structure, with factor loadings ranging from .46 to .67. CFA results in Study 2 confirmed this structure. Measurement invariance across gender was supported by the MGA. Moreover, criterion-related validity was demonstrated in Study 2: SPS scores were positively correlated with problematic smartphone use, loneliness, and psychological distress, and negatively correlated with well-being and academic performance. In both studies, Cronbach's alpha and CR coefficients were observed at .71 or higher. In conclusion, the Turkish version of the SPS is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing the pervasiveness of smartphone use among Turkish adolescents.

Keywords

• Smartphone pervasiveness
• Problematic smartphone use
• Smartphone addiction
• Validity
• Reliability

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