Internet Use Scale for Emotional Distress Avoidance in Adolescents (IU-EDA): Development, Psychometric Validation, and Predictive Validity of Problematic Internet Use.
This study introduces and validates the Internet Use Scale for Emotional Distress Avoidance in Adolescents (IU-EDA), designed to assess the tendency to use the Internet as a coping strategy for negative emotional states. A total of 764 adolescents (51.8% boys; aged 11–17, mean age: 13.32 years) from...
| Publicado en: | Journal of Prevention Vol. 47; no. 2; pp. 259 - 285 |
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| Autores principales: | , , |
| Formato: | research tables/charts Journal Article |
| Publicado: |
Springer Nature
Apr2026
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| Acceso en línea: | Ver este registro en EBSCOhost |
| fields | @attributes: recordID: 1 pdfLink: plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=192725973&site=ehost-live header: @attributes: shortDbName: ccm uiTerm: 192725973 longDbName: CINAHL Complete uiTag: AN controlInfo: bkinfo: dissinfo: jinfo: jid: 27315533 N0CD jtl: Journal of Prevention issn: 27315533 maglogo: N pubinfo: dt: Apr2026 vid: 47 iid: 2 pid: 237 pub: Springer Nature place: New York, New York artinfo: ui: 192725973 190540885 192725973 192725973 10.1007/s10935-025-00887-2 192725973 ppf: 259 ppct: 26 formats: tig: atl: Internet Use Scale for Emotional Distress Avoidance in Adolescents (IU-EDA): Development, Psychometric Validation, and Predictive Validity of Problematic Internet Use. aug: au: Villanueva-Blasco, Víctor José Gómez-Martínez, Sandra Iranzo-Ejarque, Begoña affil: https://ror.org/00gjj5n39 Faculty of Health Sciences, Valencian International University, C/Pintor Sorolla, 21, 46002, Valencia, Spain sug: subj: Instrument Construction Instrument Validation Internet Utilization Psychometrics Evaluation Avoidance (Psychology) In Adolescence Psychological Distress In Adolescence Internet Addiction In Adolescence Scales Evaluation Emotional Regulation In Adolescence Human Reliability and Validity Male Female Child Adolescence Descriptive Statistics Validation Studies Coping Delphi Technique Factor Analysis Coefficient alpha Anxiety Depression Sadness Hopelessness Adolescent Behavior Summated Rating Scaling Discriminant Validity Predictive Validity Chi Square Test Cross Sectional Studies Data Analysis Software Child: 6-12 years Adolescent: 13-18 years Male Female ab: This study introduces and validates the Internet Use Scale for Emotional Distress Avoidance in Adolescents (IU-EDA), designed to assess the tendency to use the Internet as a coping strategy for negative emotional states. A total of 764 adolescents (51.8% boys; aged 11–17, mean age: 13.32 years) from ten Spanish municipalities participated across two samples. The IU-EDA was developed following theoretical models of Problematic Internet Use (PIU) and use to avoid emotional distress in adolescents. Items were developed from literature and validated via the Delphi technique. Analyses included descriptive statistics, correlations, factor analysis, reliability (Cronbach's alpha), regressions for predictive validity, and Cohen's d comparisons. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses revealed a two-factor structure: Avoidance of Negative Moods (ANM) and Avoidance of Self-Esteem Threats (AST), explaining 68.1% of the total variance. The scale showed excellent internal consistency (α = 0.923) and strong convergent validity with emotional dysregulation, anxiety, depression, and PIU, and weak associations with life satisfaction. ANM, associated with transient emotions like anxiety, sadness, and irritability, showed a stronger predictive relationship with PIU and variables such as late-night Internet use and extended online hours. In contrast, AST, linked to more stable emotional traits like hopelessness, had a lesser direct impact on these behaviors. The findings highlight that PIU in adolescents is primarily driven by immediate negative emotional states, emphasizing the importance of addressing emotional regulation skills in preventive interventions. Gender differences were observed, with girls scoring higher in ANM and PIU. This study validates the IU-EDA for identifying emotional factors associated with PIU and guiding prevention and treatment. It highlights ANM as a priority target, while AST requires more intensive clinical approaches where more stable emotional vulnerabilities are present. pubtype: Academic Journal doctype: research tables/charts Journal Article ougenre: Article language: English refInfo: holdings: @attributes: islocal: N |
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