Factor structure of the compulsive internet use scale.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Internet Addiction Research
• Psychometrics

Background:

• Standardized instruments are crucial for advancing Internet addiction research.
• The Compulsive Internet Use Scale (CIUS) is a brief, promising questionnaire for assessing problematic internet use.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the factor structure of the German version of the CIUS using confirmatory factor analysis.
• To test the factorial invariance of the best-fitting CIUS structure across sex, age, education, and weekly internet use.

Main Methods:

• Confirmatory factor analysis was applied to a weighted general population sample (N=8,132).
• Participants were aged 14-64 and used the internet for private purposes for at least one hour daily.
• Factorial invariance was tested across demographic variables and internet usage levels.

Main Results:

• A one-factor model demonstrated a good fit for the German CIUS.
• The one-factor structure was found to be invariant across sex, age, education level, and weekly internet use.
• These findings support the psychometric properties of the CIUS.

Conclusions:

• The German version of the Compulsive Internet Use Scale (CIUS) is a valid and reliable brief screening instrument for internet addiction.
• Its robust factor structure and invariance across key demographic variables enhance its utility in diverse populations.
• The CIUS is suitable for use in general population samples for identifying compulsive internet use.