Development of Social Media Addiction Scale for COVID-19 Pandemic (SMACOP)

COVID-19 Social Media Addiction
Vol. 16 No. 2 : 2021 (237-248)

Lim KQ Lim KQ
ZULKIFLI NA ZULKIFLI NA
KARUPIAH G KARUPIAH G
MIUNDY P MIUNDY P
Ng CG Ng CG
LOW SY LOW SY

Abstract
The current COVID-19 pandemic and ‘new normal’ has resulted in much distress worldwide. Social media currently plays an essential role in information gathering. Thus, time spent on social media has increased drastically, further increasing the risk for internet-related addictions, such as social media addiction. This study aimed to develop a COVID-19-related measure of social media addiction based on the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS) in order to aid in the identification and evaluation of at-risk individuals. Social Media Addiction Scale for COVID-19 Pandemic (SMACOP) was adapted from BSMAS to fit the context of COVID-19 and pilot tested on 20 individuals. A total of 80 participants were subsequently recruited through convenience sampling from the general public of a public university in Malaysia, comprising of patients’ family, visitors, or hospital staff. Construct validity was assessed using the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD7) and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ9). A two-factor structure was found for SMACOP, comprising of the factors ‘Desire’ and ‘Distress’. SMACOP shows good internal consistency (α = 0.64) and validity. SMACOP scores were positively correlated with the PHQ9, GAD7, and ISI (p<.01). SMACOP is a psychometrically valid instrument with high internal consistency, which is especially useful during this time in assessing social media addiction in relevance to COVID-19.
Keywords : COVID-19, pandemic, Social media addiction,
Abstrak
Pandemik COVID-19 ini telah menyebabkan peningkatan distres dan kesusahan di seluruh dunia. Pada masa ini, media sosial memainkan peranan yang amat penting dalam pengumpulan maklumat. Oleh itu, masa yang dihabiskan di media sosial telah meningkat secara drastik dan meningkatkan risiko ketagihan berkaitan dengan internet, seperti ketagihan media sosial. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk menubuhkan sebuah skala untuk mengukur ketagihan media sosial yang berkaitan dengan COVID-19 berdasarkan 'Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale' (BSMAS) bertujuan untuk mengenal pasti dan menilai individu yang berisiko tinggi. 'Social Media Addiction Scale for COVID-19 Pandemic' (SMACOP) diadaptasi dari BSMAS untuk disesuaikan ke dalam konteks COVID-19. Seterusnya, kajian rintis telah dijalankan ke atas 20 individu. Kemudian seramai 80 peserta direkrut melalui persampelan kemudahan dalam kalangan orang awam yang berada di sebuah universiti awam di Malaysia. Mereka terdiri daripada keluarga pesakit, pelawat atau kakitangan hospital. Kesahan konstruk dinilai melalui 'Insomnia Severity Index' (ISI), 'Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7' (GAD7) dan 'Patient Health Questionnaire' (PHQ9). Struktur dua faktor telah ditemui iaitu ‘Keinginan’ dan ‘Distress’. SMACOP menunjukkan kesahan dalaman yang baik (α = 0.64). Skor SMACOP berkorelasi secara positif dengan PHQ9, GAD7, dan ISI (p<0.01). SMACOP merupakan instrumen psikometrik yang mempunyai kesahan dan konsistensi dalaman yang tinggi. Skala ini amat diperlukan untuk menilai ketagihan media sosial yang berkaitan dengan COVID-19, terutamanya untuk mengenalpasti individu yang berisiko tinggi untuk gangguan mental seperti kemurungan.
Kata Kunci : COVID-19, Ketagihan media sosial, pandemik,

Correspondance Address
Ng Chong Guan. Department of Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Tel: +603-79492068 Email: chong_guan@um.edu.my