AUTHOR=Spritzer Daniel Tornaim , Machado Wagner de Lara , Yates Marina Balem , Astolfi Vitória Rech , Laskoski Pricilla , Pessi Cristina , Laconi Stéphanie , Kaliszewska-Czeremska Katarzyna , Demetrovics Zsolt , Király Orsolya , Passos Ives Cavalcante , Hauck Simone
TITLE=Psychometric Properties of the Nine-Item Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire in a Brazilian General Population Sample
JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychiatry
VOLUME=12
YEAR=2021
URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.660186
DOI=10.3389/fpsyt.2021.660186
ISSN=1664-0640
ABSTRACT=Objective: The goal of the study is to adapt and examine the psychometric properties of the Brazilian version of the nine-item Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire (PIUQ-SF-9).
Methods: A convenience sample of Brazilian internet users aged between 18 and 89 years (72.7% female, mean age 38.7 years ± 13.5) was recruited online from September 2018 to July 2019 (test sample = 1,525; retest sample = 237). Participants responded to the adapted version of the PIUQ-SF-9, as well as the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D-10) and sociodemographic questions.
Results: A bifactor model with one general factor and three specific dimensions (obsession, neglect and control disorder) yielded the best fit indices [χ2 = 67.66, df = 15, CFI = 0.99, TLI = 0.99, RMSEA = 0.048 (0.037–0.060), RMSEA p close = 0.587 and SRMR = 0.01]. McDonald's hierarchical omega coefficient was 0.76 for the general factor and varied between 0.16 and 0.33 for the specific dimensions. The intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.73 for the general factor and varied between 0.64 and 0.72 for the specific dimensions. The MIMIC model supported the scale's construct validity as the relationship of the predictors (age, time spent online, self-perception of problematic internet use, and depression symptoms) with the PIUQ-SF-9 factors was in line with the assumptions based on the literature.
Conclusion: PIUQ-SF-9 seems to be a brief and culturally validated instrument with sound psychometric properties to be used in future studies on problematic internet use in the Brazilian population.