Development and Validation of the Short-Form Drama Addiction Motivation Scale: A Network Analysis Approach

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Media Studies
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Short-form video content consumption has surged, leading to concerns about potential addiction.
• Understanding the psychological drivers of short-form drama addiction is crucial for developing effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a reliable scale measuring the motivations behind short-form drama addiction.
• To identify the key factors contributing to short-form drama addiction using network analysis.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to 625 Chinese university students assessing short-form drama addiction motivations.
• Network analysis, including estimation, visualization, and centrality index, was employed using JASP software.
• Psychometric properties of the developed scale were evaluated for reliability and validity.

Main Results:

• A stable four-cluster structure of motivations was identified: fantasy gratification, low cognitive load preference, negative emotions, and lack of social connection/belonging.
• The developed Short-Form Drama Addiction Motivation Scale demonstrated satisfactory psychometric properties.
• Network analysis confirmed the interrelationships between different motivational factors.

Conclusions:

• The validated scale offers a robust tool for assessing short-form drama addiction motivations.
• Findings provide novel theoretical insights into the emerging phenomenon of short-form drama addiction.
• The study highlights practical implications for future research and the design of targeted intervention strategies.