Support of the Dimensionality and Internal Consistency of the Generalized Problematic Internet Use Scale-2: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The field of problematic Internet use (PIU) has seen significant academic interest in recent years. In the absence of a universally accepted definition of PIU, a multitude of scales have been developed to evaluate it. Notably, the Generalized Problematic Internet Use Scale 2 (GPIUS-2), formulated on...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:CyberPsychology, Behavior & Social Networking Vol. 28; no. 1; pp. 7 - 18
Main Authors: Elosua, Paula, Abad, Francisco J., Hernández, Ana
Format: meta analysis research systematic review tables/charts Journal Article
Published: Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. Jan2025
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
Description
Summary:The field of problematic Internet use (PIU) has seen significant academic interest in recent years. In the absence of a universally accepted definition of PIU, a multitude of scales have been developed to evaluate it. Notably, the Generalized Problematic Internet Use Scale 2 (GPIUS-2), formulated on the cognitive-behavioral model by Caplan, emerges as a significant instrument in this domain. This research conducts a systematic review and meta-analysis of the GPIUS-2. The central aim is to assess its internal structure and reliability. This is achieved by a meta-analysis of the Cronbach's alpha and the factorial structure, which is carried out in the framework of the Meta-Analytic Structural Equation Modeling. The results reveal high internal consistency of the GPIUS-2, support the multidimensional nature of the scale, and provide evidence about the presence of a generalized factor supporting the use of a total scale value as indicator of GPIUS. In addition, the study delineates potential areas for future research aimed at further refining the validity of the GPIUS-2.