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Published in: Psychiatric Quarterly 1/2018

01-03-2018 | Original Paper

Validation of the Internet Addiction Test in Students at a Pakistani Medical and Dental School

Authors: Ahmed Waqas, Faisal Farooq, Mohsin Raza, Saamia Tahir Javed, Spogmai Khan, Mahrukh Elahi Ghumman, Sadiq Naveed, Mark Haddad

Published in: Psychiatric Quarterly | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Despite growing concerns over pathological internet usage, studies based on validated psychometric instruments are still lacking in Pakistan. This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) in a sample of Pakistani students. A total of 522 students of medicine and dentistry completed the questionnaire, which consisted of four sections: (a) demographics, (b) number of hours spent on the Internet per day, (c) English version of the IAT, and (d) the Defense Style Questionnaire-40. Maximum likelihood analysis and principal axis factoring were used to validate the factor structure of the IAT. Convergent and criterion validity were assessed by correlating IAT scores with number of hours spent online and defense styles. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis reflected the goodness of fit of a unidimensional structure of the IAT, with a high alpha coefficient. The IAT had good face and convergent validity and no floor and ceiling effects, and was judged easy to read by participants.
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Metadata
Title
Validation of the Internet Addiction Test in Students at a Pakistani Medical and Dental School
Authors
Ahmed Waqas
Faisal Farooq
Mohsin Raza
Saamia Tahir Javed
Spogmai Khan
Mahrukh Elahi Ghumman
Sadiq Naveed
Mark Haddad
Publication date
01-03-2018
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Psychiatric Quarterly / Issue 1/2018
Print ISSN: 0033-2720
Electronic ISSN: 1573-6709
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11126-017-9528-5

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