Development and validation of the Scale of Motives for Using Social Networking Sites (SMU-SNS) for adolescents and youths

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 14; no. 12; p. e0225781
• Main Authors: Pertegal, Miguel-Ángel, Oliva, Alfredo, Rodríguez-Meirinhos, Ana
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 03.12.2019; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescents; Age; Biology and Life Sciences; College students; Computer and Information Sciences; Correlation analysis; Digital media; Entertainment; Factor Analysis, Statistical; Female; Focus Groups; Gender; Humans; Internet; Literature reviews; Male; Motivation; Networking; Online social networks; People and Places; Personality; Personality traits; Physical Sciences; Reliability analysis; Reproducibility of Results; Research and Analysis Methods; Social aspects; Social interactions; Social media; Social Networking; Social networks; Social organization; Social research; Social Sciences; Social support; Studies; Surveys and Questionnaires; Systematic review; Teenagers; Word of mouth advertising; Young Adult; Youth; Spain; New York
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0225781

Over the past decade, the Uses and Gratifications theory has driven research on the motives behind social media use. The three most commonly explored motives have been: maintaining relationships, seeking information, and entertainment. The aim of this study was to develop and validate the Scale of Motives for Using Social Networking Sites (SMU-SNS), a measure to assess a wider range of motives for using Social Networking Sites than have previously been researched. A multi-method design with different samples of high-school and university students was used. First, to develop the pool of items, a literature review and a focus group study (n = 48, age range = 16-21) was conducted. Second, to reduce and refine the pool of items a pilot study (n = 168, age range = 14-24) was performed. Third, a validation study (n = 1102, age range = 13-25) was conducted to assess the validity and reliability of the SMU-SNS. Cross-validation using EFA and CFA resulted in a final version comprising 27 items distributed in nine factors (Dating, New Friendships, Academic Purposes, Social Connectedness, Following and Monitoring Others, Entertainment, seeking Social Recognition, Self-expression, and seeking Information). Internal consistency was excellent and evidence of measurement invariance across gender and age was largely achieved. The SMU-SNS scores significantly correlated with other relevant variables, including age, gender, certain personality traits, social support, loneliness, and life satisfaction. Overall, findings supported the SMU-SNS as a valid and reliable measure to assess youth's motives for using Social Networking Sites. Psychometric and general implications are discussed.