Smartphone Application-Based Addiction Scale: Psychometric Evidence Across Nine Asian Regions Using Advanced Analytic Methods

Universitas Padjadjaran Contributes to Large-Scale Validation of Smartphone Addiction Scale Across Nine Asian Regions

Smartphone addiction is an emerging global concern, especially among young adults who rely heavily on mobile technology. The Smartphone Application-Based Addiction Scale (SABAS) is a concise, six-item tool designed to measure problematic smartphone use with promising psychometric qualities.

In a large-scale study involving 10,397 participants from nine Asian regions, Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam, Universitas Padjadjaran’s Faculty of Nursing partnered with leading institutions such as Qufu Normal University, China, Universiti Putra Malaysia, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Chang Gung University, Taiwan, Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh, CHINTA Research Bangladesh, Gandhara University, Pakistan, Arabian Gulf University, Bahrain, Jönköping University, Sweden, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Iran to validate the SABAS across diverse cultural contexts.

Results confirmed that SABAS maintains a consistent one-factor structure across different age groups and genders, demonstrating strong measurement invariance. Although some regional variations were found in certain statistical parameters, overall, the SABAS proves to be a reliable and valid instrument for assessing smartphone addiction across multiple Asian contexts.

This multinational study highlights Universitas Padjadjaran’s active role in addressing digital health challenges and contributes valuable tools aligned with Sustainable Development Goals focused on mental health and well-being (SDG 3).

Access the full open-access article here: https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.70133