Psychometric Properties of the Nine-Item Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire (PIUQ-9) in a Lithuanian Sample of Students

Abstract

Objectives: To date, there is no reliable instrument which could be used to assess problematic Internet use (PIU) in Lithuania. The nine-item Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire (PIUQ-9) previously validated in multiple countries, could be a potential tool for measuring PIU severity. The main objective of the present study was to explore the psychometric properties of the Lithuanian version of the questionnaire. Methods: A total of 272 students (17% men, mean age 27 ± 9 years) completed the PIUQ-9, the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) and answered questions about the impairment of daily functioning caused by PIU in an online survey. Results: A confirmatory factor analysis indicated that a bi-factor model with one general factor “general problem” and two-specific factors “obsession” and “neglect + control disorder” fitted the data well. The presence of a strong global factor was supported by the common variance index in the bi-factor model indicating that the “general problem” factor explained 67.7% of common variance. The multiple indicators multiple causes (MIMIC) model showed that psychiatric symptoms (β = 0.25) had a moderate, while impairment due to PIU (β = 0.41) had a moderate-to-strong direct effect on the factor “general problem” supporting the construct validity of the scale. Conclusion: The Lithuanian version of the PIUQ-9 has appropriate psychometric properties to be used in measuring PIU severity in student samples.

Impulsivity Mediates Associations Between Problematic Internet Use, Anxiety, and Depressive Symptoms in Students: A Cross-Sectional COVID-19 Study

“…Around one third of medical students also reported significant PIU in other recent studies by Anand et al ( 11 ) and Shadzi et al ( 55 ). The recent study, employing the same instrument for PIU with the same cut-off values, completed in Lithuanian students during Sept-Nov 2019 ( 37 ), found that 31.9% had symptoms of significant PIU. Thus, our study shows that the level of PIU is substantially higher during the COVID-19 pandemic than before this period.…”

“…Total scores range from 9 to 45, with higher scores indicating higher risk of PIU. The previous studies demonstrated appropriate psychometric properties of the PIUQ-9 across a number of European languages and cultures (36,37). Based on the previous study in a sample of Lithuanian students, a cut-off value of >20 was used for screening markedly expressed PIU symptoms.…”

Internet Usage Habits and Experienced Levels of Psychopathology: A Pilot Study on Association with Spontaneous Eye Blinking Rate

“…Investigation of internet usage pattern was estimated based on the Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire, 9 items version (PIUQ-9) [ 30 ]. Subjects were also assessed for experienced levels of depression (BDI-II, Beck Depression Inventory, Second Edition [ 31 ]), anxiety (BAI, Beck Anxiety Inventory [ 32 ]), and obsessive–compulsive symptoms (CBOCI, Clark–Beck Obsessive–Compulsive Inventory [ 33 ]).…”

“…Nine items were evaluated using a five-point Likert scale, ranging from “Never” (1) to “Always/Almost always” (5) with higher scores indicating increased risk for problematic behavior. Based on the previous psychometric characteristics study in a sample of Lithuanian students [ 30 ], a cut-off value of >20 was used for screening markedly expressed PIU symptoms. Cronbach’s alpha of the scale in the current sample was 0.87.…”

Psychometric Properties of the Nine-Item Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire in a Brazilian General Population Sample

“…It has also proved to be valid across various methods of data collection (i.e., online as well as paperpencil) and age groups, being considered suitable for time-limited surveys (12,13). Cross-cultural psychometric studies found that the PIUQ-SF-9 demonstrated adequate measurement invariance across several European and Asian countries (14)(15)(16).…”