Volume 68, March 2017, Pages 17–29
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2016.11.019
Highlights
- The new Italian validation of the Internet Addiction Test is presented.
- Robust Maximum Likelihood confirmatory methods is used for the validation.
- The final scale exhibited a good internal, convergent and divergent reliability.
- The results confirm the two-factor solution of the Internet Addiction Test.
- The items 4 and 7 were dropped, resulting in an 18-item questionnaire.
Abstract
The aim of the study was to assess the psychometric properties of the 20-item Internet Addiction Test (IAT) among a sample of 659 Italian university students enrolled in several degree courses in the same university. The data collected was subjected to exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses by using robust statistical models. Results from exploratory factorial analysis suggested removing items 4 and 7 of the IAT. The final 18-items of the IAT were covered by a two-factor model which demonstrated good psychometric properties, and fits well with the data. Pearson’s correlation results indicated that the two-factor model satisfied the criteria of convergent and divergent validity. The present study confirms that the IAT is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring Internet addiction. At the same time, the study suggests that some items of the IAT needs to be improved. Practical implications for further studies are provided as a conclusion.
Keywords
- Internet Addiction Test;
- Internet addiction disorder;
- Psychometric assessing;
- Robust Maximum Likelihood;
- University students
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