Emerging adults and Facebook use: the validation of the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale (BFAS)

• Autor(a) principal: Veiga, Gustavo Ferreira da
• Data de Publicação: 2018
• Outros Autores: Sotero, Luciana, Pontes, Halley M., Cunha, Diana, Portugal, Alda, Relvas, Ana P.
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.13/4007
• topic: Behavioral addiction; Social networking sites; Bergen Facebook addiction scale (BFAS); Portuguese psychometric studies; Emerging adults; .; Faculdade de Artes e Humanidades

Based on the six key components of addiction, the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale (BFAS) is a widely used instrument to assess Facebook addiction. This study aimed to conduct a psychometric validation in a Portuguese sample of emerging adults (ages 18 to 29 years). The construct validity analyses confirmed the one-factor solution and a statistically significant association found between Facebook addiction and Preference for Online Social Interaction, measured by the Generalized Problematic Internet Use Scale 2, warranted the scale criterion validity. Internal consistency was scrutinized using Cronbach’s α (α = .87) and stability measured by test-retest (r = .94). Associations between BFAS scores and Brief Symptom Inventory dimensions scores (e.g., interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety) and the GPIUS2 subscale, deficient self-regulation, scores were evaluated. A subsample with higher levels of addiction was analyzed. In summary, the results of the present study support the use of the Portuguese version of the BFAS in both research and clinical milieus. Further implica tions for research and practice were considered.