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Cited by 121Impact of Technology on AdolescentsSexuality, Behavior, and TechnologyGambling Behavior and Treatments

Portuguese validation of the Internet Addiction Test: An empirical study

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Pontes, Halley M., Patrão, Ivone M., Griffiths, Mark D.·2014·Journal of Behavioral Addictions
DOI 10.1556/jba.3.2014.2.4PMC PMC4117285
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Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Research into Internet addiction (IA) has increased greatly over the last decade. Despite its various definitions and general lack of consensus regarding its conceptualisation amongst researchers, instruments for measuring this phenomenon have proliferated in a number of countries. There has been little research on IA in Portugal and this may be partly due to the absence of standardised measurement tools for assessing IA. METHODS: This study attempted to address this issue by adapting a Portuguese version of the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) via a translation-back translation process and Confirmatory Factor Analysis in a sample of 593 Portuguese students that completed a Portuguese version of the IAT along with questions related to socio-demographic variables. RESULTS: The findings suggested that the IAT appears to be a valid and reliable instrument for measuring IA among Portuguese young adults as demonstrated by its satisfactory psychometric properties. However, the present findings also suggest the need to reword and update some of the IAT's items. Prevalence of IA found in the sample was 1.2% and is discussed alongside findings relating to socio-demographic correlates. Limitations and implications of the present study are also discussed. CONCLUSIONS: The present study calls for a reflection of the IAT while also contributing to a better understanding of the basic aspects of IA in the Portuguese community since many health practitioners are starting to realise that Internet use may pose a risk for some individuals.

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  • The Internet Addiction Test was validated for the Portuguese population as being unifactorial.

    “The Internet Addiction Test was validated for the Portuguese population as being unifactorial.”

    From Dark Personality Traits and Online Behaviors: Portuguese Versions of Cyberstalking, Online Harassment, Flaming and Trolling Scales (2023) · cites this paper as [48]

    The Results (Confirmatory factor analysis; page unavailable) report an acceptable fit for a uni-factorial Portuguese IAT, and the Discussion says a uni-dimensional solution was suitable. However, the study tested Portuguese adolescent and young-adult students, not the Portuguese population as a whole. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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  • The Internet Addiction Test was validated for the Portuguese population as being unifactorial, but in this sample the confirmatory factorial analysis fit was unacceptable.

    “The Internet Addiction Test was validated for the Portuguese population as being unifactorial. We proceeded to carry out a confirmatory factorial analysis to evaluate the model in our population, but the fit was unacceptable.”

    From Dark Personality Traits and Online Behaviors: Portuguese Versions of Cyberstalking, Online Harassment, Flaming and Trolling Scales (2023) · cites this paper as [48]

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Authors
Pontes, H. M., Patrão, I. M., & Griffiths, M. D.
Affiliations
  • Nottingham Trent University (GB)
  • ISPA - Instituto Universitário (PT)
Corresponding author
Pontes, Halley M.
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Behavioral Addictions
Publisher
Akademiai Kiado Zrt.
Published
2014-06
Volume
3
Issue
2
Pages
107-114
ISSN
  • 2062-5871 (ISSN-L)
  • 2063-5303
DOI
10.1556/jba.3.2014.2.4
PMC
PMC4117285
OpenAlex
W2021953524
Cited by
121
References
9
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 1
FWCI
39.11
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by-nc
Locations
  • Journal of Behavioral Addictions (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • BIROn (Birkbeck, University of London) (acceptedVersion)
  • Nottingham Trent University's Institutional Repository (Nottingham Trent Repository) (acceptedVersion)
  • Repository of the Academy's Library (Library of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences) (acceptedVersion)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • Portuguese National Funding Agency for Science, Research and Technology (RCAAP Project by FCT) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Portuguese National Funding Agency for Science, Research and Technology (RCAAP Project by FCT) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Gambling Behavior and Treatments
Keywords
internet addiction, Internet Addiction Test, Portuguese adaptation, psychometric validation, translation and back-translation, young adults, prevalence, sociodemographic correlates

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