THE EFFECT OF PROBLEMATIC INTERNET USE SCALE (EPIUS): DEVELOPMENT AND PSYCHOMETRIC ANALYSIS

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the effects of problematic internet use (PIU) among young adults, focusing on the development of a culturally relevant scale grounded in Davis's (2001) cognitive-behavioral model. A total of 250 undergraduate students (46 males, 204 
females; age range: 18-26 years, Mage = 21.22, SD = 1.73) from public and private universities in Lahore, Pakistan, were recruited via convenience sampling. The Problematic Internet Use Scale-Urdu (PIUS-U) was developed through four stages: domain identification and item generation, expert validation, pilot testing, and exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Psychometric evaluation demonstrated excellent internal consistency (α = .82) and temporal stability (r = .94). EFA revealed three factors: psychological effects, social effects, and academic effects of PIU. Pearson correlations confirmed the content validity, while the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) and Bartlett’s test ensured sample adequacy. Convergent validity was moderate (r = .55, .56) with related constructs, while discriminant validity showed weak or no association with unrelated constructs (r = -.20). The scale’s internal consistency was robust (Cronbach’s α = .850). 
These findings suggest that the PIUS-U is a reliable and valid tool for assessing PIU in Pakistani youth, capturing its psychological, social, and academic dimensions. This instrument fills a critical gap in culturally relevant measures of PIU and offers a solid foundation for future research and interventions in this population.