Crosscultural Measurement Invariance of the Internet Addiction Test-Revised (IAT-R) Among Japanese and Filipino University Students.

This study investigated the measurement equivalence of the Internet Addiction Test-Revised (IAT-R) among university students. In the Asian College Health Assessment (ACHA), 200 Japanese and 348 Filipino university students completed a survey in 2016-2017 school year. Multiple-group confirmatory factor analysis was performed to examine the three hierarchical levels (configural, metric, and scalar) of measurement invariance. A first-order three-factor model with three domains, namely "Excessive Use, Lack of Control, and Neglect Work," "Anticipation and Salient," and "Neglect Social Life," emerged. The fit indices were 0.958 for comparative fit index (CFI) and 0.025 (0.017-0.034) for root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) (confidence interval [90% CI]) in Japanese sample; and 0.962 for CFI and 0.068 (0.053-0.088) for RMSEA (90% CI) in Filipino sample. All three levels of measurement invariance between the two samples were established, with ΔCFI and ΔRMSEA not exceeding -0.01 and 0.015, respectively, for each increasing stringent level. The results indicated the measurement equivalence of IAT-R for assessing Internet addiction risks across cultural groups.

Epidemiology of internet behaviors and addiction among adolescents in six Asian countries.

Internet addiction has become a serious behavioral health problem in Asia. However, there are no up-to-date country comparisons. The Asian Adolescent Risk Behavior Survey (AARBS) screens and compares the prevalence of Internet behaviors and addiction in adolescents in six Asian countries. A total of 5,366 adolescents aged 12-18 years were recruited from six Asian countries: China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Participants completed a structured questionnaire on their Internet use in the 2012-2013 school year. Internet addiction was assessed using the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) and the Revised Chen Internet Addiction Scale (CIAS-R). The variations in Internet behaviors and addiction across countries were examined. The overall prevalence of smartphone ownership is 62%, ranging from 41% in China to 84% in South Korea. Moreover, participation in online gaming ranges from 11% in China to 39% in Japan. Hong Kong has the highest number of adolescents reporting daily or above Internet use (68%). Internet addiction is highest in the Philippines, according to both the IAT (5%) and the CIAS-R (21%). Internet addictive behavior is common among adolescents in Asian countries. Problematic Internet use is prevalent and characterized by risky cyberbehaviors.