Evaluating Problematic Smartphone Use Among Chinese Primary School Students Using SABAS: An IRT and Network Analysis

IF 2.4 3区医学 Q2 PSYCHIATRY

International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research Pub Date : 2025-04-01 DOI:10.1002/mpr.70016

Siyang Liu, Qian Chen, Jiayang Li, Yimeng Zhu, Xiaorong Guo, Xin Zhao

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objectives

This study assessed the psychometric properties of the Smartphone Application-Based Addiction Scale (SABAS) among Chinese primary school students, focusing on validity, reliability, and factor structure using Item Response Theory (IRT) and Network Analysis (NA).

Methods

Data were collected from 1108 primary school students in China (52.98% female; ages 7–14 years; M = 10.58, SD = 0.99). SABAS was assessed using Item Response Theory (IRT) for factor structure, item parameters, cut-off scores, and reliability, while Differential Item Functioning (DIF) detected gender biases. Network Analysis (NA) examined the interrelationships among SABAS items.

Results

Confirmatory factor analysis supported SABAS's unidimensional structure (RMSEA = 0.055, CFI = 0.984, TLI = 0.973, SRMR = 0.025). IRT indicated high item discrimination (α = 1.47–2.47) and identified a cut-off score of 27, classifying 1.7% of students as high-risk for problematic smartphone use. Gender DIF was noted in item 6, with boys showing higher relapse tendencies (p < 0.05). NA highlighted the centrality of tolerance and withdrawal items.

Conclusions

SABAS is a reliable tool for assessing problematic smartphone use in Chinese primary school students, particularly those at moderate to high risk.

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来源期刊

International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research 医学-精神病学

CiteScore

5.20

自引率

6.50%

发文量

审稿时长

>12 weeks

期刊介绍： The International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research (MPR) publishes high-standard original research of a technical, methodological, experimental and clinical nature, contributing to the theory, methodology, practice and evaluation of mental and behavioural disorders. The journal targets in particular detailed methodological and design papers from major national and international multicentre studies. There is a close working relationship with the US National Institute of Mental Health, the World Health Organisation (WHO) Diagnostic Instruments Committees, as well as several other European and international organisations. MPR aims to publish rapidly articles of highest methodological quality in such areas as epidemiology, biostatistics, generics, psychopharmacology, psychology and the neurosciences. Articles informing about innovative and critical methodological, statistical and clinical issues, including nosology, can be submitted as regular papers and brief reports. Reviews are only occasionally accepted. MPR seeks to monitor, discuss, influence and improve the standards of mental health and behavioral neuroscience research by providing a platform for rapid publication of outstanding contributions. As a quarterly journal MPR is a major source of information and ideas and is an important medium for students, clinicians and researchers in psychiatry, clinical psychology, epidemiology and the allied disciplines in the mental health field.