Revision and validation of the screen addiction scale in the Chinese cultural context

Currently, screen devices have become an integral part of middle school students' daily learning and lives, yet the concomitant issue of screen addiction cannot be overlooked. This study aimed to revise and validate the 21-item Gökçe Screen Addiction Scale within the Chinese cultural context. In Study 1 (N = 461), the original scale was adapted into Chinese via forward–backward translation by bilingual experts, followed by pilot testing. This culturally adapted version then underwent preliminary revision. Through item analysis and exploratory factor analysis, one item from the original scale was deleted, and the dimensional structure was adjusted to better align with the screen usage patterns of Chinese adolescents, resulting in a 20-item scale comprising four dimensions. In Study 2 (N = 484), the reliability and validity of the preliminarily revised scale were examined. The results of confirmatory factor analysis supported the four-factor structure, demonstrating good construct validity. In Study 3 (N = 491), criterion-related validity, convergent validity, discriminant validity, incremental validity, and test–retest reliability were further examined, indicating that the revised scale performed well on all reliability and validity indicators. The final version of the Screen Addiction Scale revised for the Chinese cultural context consists of 20 items across four dimensions: Withdrawal, Mood Regulation, Lying about Use, and Negative Consequences -Compulsive Use. The scale demonstrates good reliability and validity and is suitable for assessing screen addiction levels among Chinese adolescents, thus facilitating targeted interventions for mood regulation and withdrawal in school-based programs.