Table of Contents
Description
The Internet Addiction Test (InAT), developed by Kimberly Young in 1996, is a 20-item self-report questionnaire that assesses problematic internet use, commonly referred to as “Internet Addiction.” This assessment seeks to identify excessive and uncontrollable internet usage that negatively impacts daily functions and behaviors, such as experiencing low moods when offline or lying about internet use. While the concept of Internet Addiction has garnered increasing attention, it is not officially recognized as a disorder in the DSM-5, with ongoing discussions about the need for further research in the area. The test is designed for internet users aged adolescents and older, allowing for appropriate language translations and screening for various levels of internet use severity.
Authors and Contact Email
Kimberly Young
Fatemeh Bidi [[email protected]]
Purpose
The purpose of the Internet Addiction Test is to screen for Internet Addiction by evaluating the extent to which internet usage interferes with daily life activities and mental health.
Test Year
1996
Administration Method and Scoring
The InAT is delivered as a self-report questionnaire and consists of 20 items. Respondents score their agreement with each item on a 6-point scale (0 = does not apply to 5 = always), resulting in total scores that range from 0 to 100. Results indicate different severity levels: scores of 39 or lower suggest average usage, scores from 40 to 69 indicate problematic usage, and scores of 70 or higher point to severely problematic usage.
Reliability and Validity
Research on the InAT includes some validation studies that show appropriate convergent and discriminant validity, yet there have been reported issues with reliability, particularly in adolescent populations compared to college students. Some studies indicate that the IAT was not sensitive enough to effectively distinguish between pathological and non-pathological users in clinical settings.
Factors and Subscales
Factor analysis has produced varying results among research teams, with the majority identifying two common factors, while some have extracted as many as six factors.
Keywords
Internet Addiction, Internet Usage, Psychometric Properties, Self-Report Questionnaire, Behavioral Addiction
Items of Internet Addiction Test (IAT)
1. Do you find that you stay online longer than you intended?
2. Do you neglect household chores to spend more time online?
3. Do you prefer the excitement of the internet to intimacy with your partner?
4. Do you form new relationships with fellow online users?
5. Do others in your life complain to you about the amount of time you spend online?
6. Does your work suffer because of the amount of time you spend online? (E.g., postponing things, not meeting deadlines, etc.)
7. Do you check your email before something else you need to do?
8. Does your job performance or productivity suffer because of the internet?
9. Do you become defensive or secretive when anyone asks you what you do online?
10. Do you block disturbing thoughts about your life with soothing thoughts of the internet?
11. Do you find yourself anticipating when you will go online again?
12. Do you fear that life without the internet would be boring, empty or joyless?
13. Do you snap, yell, or act annoyed if someone bothers you while you are online?
14. Do you lose sleep due to late-night internet use?
15. Do you feel preoccupied with the internet when not online, or fantasize about being online?
16. Do you find yourself saying “Just a few more minutes” when online?
17. Do you try to cut down the amount of time you spend online and fail?
18. Do you try to hide how long you’ve been online?
19. Do you choose to spend more time online over spending time out with others?
20. Do you feel depressed, moody, or nervous when you are not online, and do these feelings go away when you go back online?
References
– Kimberly S. Young. 2009. Internet Addiction: The Emergence of a New Clinical Disorder. Cyberpsychol & Behav 1(3); 237-244.
– Laura Widyanto & Mary McMurran. 2004. The Psychometric Properties of the Internet Addiction Test. Cyberpsychol & Behav 7(4); 443-50.
– https://scales.arabpsychology.com/s/internet-addiction-test-iat/