The Generalized Problematic Internet Use Scale 2 in a Polish sample: psychometric validation and relationship with specific Internet-related disorders and psychosocial functioning.

Abstract

Background: The present study aimed to adapt and psychometrically validate the Generalized Problematic Internet Use Scale 2 (GPIUS2) based on the cognitive-behavioral model of problematic Internet use. Furthermore, the study aimed to examine the relationship between problematic Internet use and other specific Internet-related disorders (i.e., social networking sites addiction, Facebook addiction, and problematic pornography use), as well as the relationships with indicators of poor psychosocial functioning.

Participants and procedure: GPIUS2 was administered to 1155 young Internet users. Participants completed a survey assessing problematic Internet use, specific Internet related-disorders, and indicators of poor psychosocial functioning (anxious and avoidant attachment, social anxiety, and loneliness) via two measuring contexts (online and offline).

Results: The results support a four-factor internal structure of the GPIUS2, similar to that initially proposed and the results of the previous studies. GPIUS2 demonstrated good reliability as well as scalar invariance across online and offline measured contexts.

Conclusions: Problematic Internet use is a multidimensional construct rather than a one-dimensional construct with strong but not overlapping positive relations with the other specific Internet-related disorders. Those relationships are especially strong among problematic activities related to the social context of Internet use. Furthermore, our findings prove the theoretical assumptions that psychosocial problems and poor social skills are related to problematic Internet use.