Smartphone Addiction Inventory (SPAI): Translation, adaptation and validation of the tool in Spanish adult population

Abstract

The wide functionality and the vast range of attributes offered by smartphones has led to a substantial increase in the average amount of time these devices are used per day. An excessive use of these tools has been shown to result in symptomatology similar to psychological disorders caused by substance addiction. In Spain, smartphone use has risen exponentially but the effects of this increase remain unclear. Therefore, an instrument is required to help determine the extent of smartphone addiction in the Spanish population. The Smartphone Addiction Inventory (SPAI) is a valid and reliable mean to identify and measure smartphone addiction and so, the aim of this research is the translation and adaptation of SPAI to Spanish, as well as the analysis of its psychometric properties in a Spanish adult population of 2,958 adults, at the University of Valencia. A multiphase-interactive model has been used, based on classical translation–back-translation methods to translate and adapt the SPAI. Moreover, a confirmatory factor analysis to verify that the inventory showed acceptable goodness of fit indices (χ2293 = 4795.909, Comparative Fit Index = 0.927, Tucker–Lewis Index = 0.919, Root Mean Square Error of approximation = 0.072, and Standardised Root Mean square Residual = 0.051) has been carried out. Also good reliability has been found for the global inventory (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.949), and each of its corresponding factors: compulsive behaviour, functional impairment, abstinence, and tolerance (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.856, 0.888, 0.855, and 0.712, respectively). Hence, the SPAI has been adequately translated and adapted for its use in Spain and therefore it is a useful tool for evaluating the degree of smartphone addiction in the Spanish adult population.

Self-Perception of Dependence as an Indicator of Smartphone Addiction—Establishment of a Cutoff Point in the SPAI–Spain Inventory

“…The SPAI-Spain instrument [39] shows adequate indices of internal consistency (α = 0.94) and consists of 22 items, four less than its original version [41]. Each item is answered by a Likert scale ranging from 1 (strongly agree) to 4 (strongly disagree), obtaining a global score between 22 and 88.…”

“…Consequently, this study was performed to establish the cut-off point in the scores of the SPAI-Spain scale [39] related to the self-perceived addiction score indicated by the participants. Besides, the intention is to verify that this criterion variable is better than other measures of dependence, such as the mobile's dedication time.…”

“…Its main advantage is its ability to assess aspects as important in other addictions such as compulsive behavior, functional impairment, withdrawal, and tolerance. The authors selected this instrument for its validation in Spanish [39] after carrying out a review of different instruments used to assess mobile addiction [25].…”

Self-Perception of Dependence as an Indicator of Smartphone Addiction. Establishment of a Cut-off Point in the SPAI-SP Inventory

“…The SPAI-Spain instrument [8] has shown adequate indices of internal consistency (α = 0.94), consists of 22 items, four less than its original version [24]. These items can be reduced to four factors or dimensions: craving, interference in daily life, interference in sleep or rest and tolerance.…”

“…Therefore, we performed this study with the aim to establish the cut-off point in the scores of the SPAI scale validated in Spanish [8] related with the self-perceived addiction score indicated by the participants. In addition, our intention is to verify that this criterion variable is better than other measures of dependence, such as the mobile's dedication time.…”