The Japanese version of the Generalized Problematic Internet Use Scale 2 (GPIUS2): Psychometric evaluation and analysis of the theoretical model

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 17; no. 11; p. e0273895
• Main Authors: Yoshimura, Sayaka, Shibata, Mami, Kyuragi, Yusuke, Kobayashi, Kei, Aki, Morio, Murai, Toshiya, Fujiwara, Hironobu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 28.11.2022; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Addictions; Addictive behaviors; Adequacy; Adult; Adults; Age; Biology and Life Sciences; Cognitive ability; Communication; Computer and Information Sciences; Evaluation; Factor analysis; Factor Analysis, Statistical; Female; Humans; Impulsive behavior; Impulsivity; Innovations; Internet; Internet Use; Japan; Medicine and Health Sciences; Mental depression; Mental disorders; Mental health; Modelling; Models, Theoretical; Multivariate statistical analysis; Online gambling; Physical Sciences; Psychiatrists; Psychometrics; Quantitative psychology; Questionnaires; Research and Analysis Methods; Self esteem; Social Sciences; Validation studies; Validity; Womens health; Japan
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273895

The Generalized Problematic Internet Use Scale 2 (GPIUS2) is a self-administered questionnaire that evaluates problematic internet use (PIU) from a multidimensional perspective. We analysed the psychometric properties and adequacy of the theoretical model of Japanese version of the GPIUS2. This study included 291 healthy Japanese adults (median age = 25 years; interquartile range 22-43 years; 128 women) who completed the GPIUS2 and several other questionnaires evaluating the degree of PIU, self-esteem, depression, and impulsivity. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) revealed a similar factor structure between the original and Japanese versions of the GPIUS2, with only minor differences in item composition. Higher-order confirmatory factor analyses revealed a good overall fit for the factorial model suggested by EFA, indicating adequate construct validity. The model showed acceptable internal consistency. Partial correlation analyses between GPIUS2 and other measures, with age as a control variable, revealed good convergent validity. Finally, structural equation modelling showed a good fit to the data, supporting the cognitive-behavioural model of Caplan (2010). The Japanese version of the GPIUS2 has good psychometric properties and the theoretical model of the original GPIUS2 is applicable to Japanese adults.