Development of the Problematic Social Networking Services Use Scale with college students

• Ji Lou

  Beijing Normal University

• Huiyan Liu

  Soulmate Software Technology, Beijing

• Xiangping Liu

  Beijing Normal University

We developed a scale to assess college students’ problematic use of social networking services (SNSs). We conducted qualitative research to identify the constructs of the scale, which comprised five dimensions: (a) attention state, (b) impaired social function, (c) withdrawal, (d) tolerance, and (e) deviant behavior. Based on exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses of a pretest with 300 students, 25 items were retained in the final version of the scale. In the main study with 1,030 students, we confirmed that the Problematic Social Networking Services Use Scale (PSUS) had good reliability and validity. Specifically, the 1-month test–retest reliability coefficient was .681. There was a moderate correlation between the PSUS and Young’s Diagnostic Questionnaire of Internet Addiction and the value of the average variance extracted check was .54 (> .50). The PSUS may, therefore, be valuable as an instrument for screening problematic student users of SNSs, and formulating intervention plans.

1. Ji Lou, Beijing Normal University
   School of Psychology
2. Xiangping Liu, Beijing Normal University

   School of Psychology

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