Development and validation of an ICD-11-based problematic social media use scale

The present study aimed to address conceptual and measurement challenges in assessing problematic social media use by developing a scale grounded in the ICD-11 diagnostic framework for behavioral addictions. Item generation was based on core features including impaired control, prioritization of the behavior, continuation despite negative consequences, and functional impairment. Following expert review and pilot testing, data were collected in multiple phases. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported a multidimensional structure consistent with ICD-11 criteria. Measurement invariance was established across gender (female vs. male) and age groups (emerging adults vs. adults) in separate Multigroup Confirmatory Analyses. Item Response Theory analyses showed that the scale demonstrates higher discrimination at low to moderate levels of problematic use, highlighting its sensitivity for early detection. Overall, the findings suggest that the scale is a theoretically grounded and psychometrically sound instrument for assessing problematic social media use, with potential applications in research, screening, and early intervention contexts.