Evaluating Problematic Smartphone Use Among Chinese Primary School Students Using SABAS: An IRT and Network Analysis

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Educational Psychology
• Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Background:

• Problematic smartphone use is a growing concern among children.
• Accurate assessment tools are needed to identify at-risk students.
• The Smartphone Application-Based Addiction Scale (SABAS) requires psychometric evaluation in diverse populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the psychometric properties of the SABAS in Chinese primary school students.
• To evaluate the validity, reliability, and factor structure of the SABAS.
• To identify potential gender biases and understand item interrelationships.

Main Methods:

• A sample of 1108 primary school students in China participated.
• Item Response Theory (IRT) was used for factor structure, item parameters, and reliability analysis.
• Network Analysis (NA) explored item interrelationships, and Differential Item Functioning (DIF) assessed gender bias.

Main Results:

• Confirmatory factor analysis supported a unidimensional structure for the SABAS.
• IRT analysis demonstrated high item discrimination and established a cut-off score of 27.
• A small percentage (1.7%) of students were classified as high-risk; gender DIF was observed in one item.

Conclusions:

• The SABAS is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing problematic smartphone use in Chinese primary school students.
• The scale is particularly useful for identifying students at moderate to high risk.
• Findings support the use of SABAS for early intervention and targeted support.