EDAS-18: Validation of the dependency and addiction to smartphone scale short-form

Abstract

The Dependency and addiction to Smartphone Scale (“Escala de Dependencia y Adicción al Smartphone”- EDAS), published in 2017, is one of the most recent instruments validated in adult population. It allows to study addictive behaviors derived from the use of the Smartphone. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a shorter version of the EDAS, involving the review of the psychometric properties of the items and their dimensionality. A total of 606 young and adult people participated (18 to 48 years old). After the psychometric adjustment of the items and the exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, the initial 40 items were reduced to 18, being grouped into a single factor. The instrument was renamed EDAS-18, reaching an internal consistency of α =.88 and various evidences of validity. The results replicate the previous research findings on the sex and age differences in the Smartphone use.