Examining the diagnostic criteria for Internet addiction: Expert validation

Wen-Yu Hsu; Sunny S J Lin; Shan-Mei Chang; Yin-Hsing Tseng; Nan-Ying Chiu

doi:10.1016/j.jfma.2014.03.010

Examining the diagnostic criteria for Internet addiction: Expert validation

J Formos Med Assoc. 2015 Jun;114(6):504-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jfma.2014.03.010. Epub 2014 Apr 29.

Authors

Wen-Yu Hsu¹, Sunny S J Lin², Shan-Mei Chang², Yin-Hsing Tseng³, Nan-Ying Chiu⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychiatry, Lu-Tung Christian Hospital, Lukang, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan; Department of Clinical Psychiatry, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Institute of Clinical Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
² Institute of Education, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
³ Department of Counseling, National Chiayi University, Chiayi, Taiwan.
⁴ Department of Psychiatry, Lu-Tung Christian Hospital, Lukang, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan; Department of Clinical Psychiatry, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan. Electronic address: 400786@cch.org.tw.

PMID: 24787664
DOI: 10.1016/j.jfma.2014.03.010

Abstract

Background/purpose: Internet addiction is the coming problem around the world. The diagnostic criteria for Internet addiction among adolescents (DC-IA-A) has become a widely used measure for assessing the presence of Internet addiction in Taiwan. This study examined the diagnosis criteria for Internet addiction in adolescents by expert evaluation.

Methods: Twenty psychiatrists rated the adequacy of each criterion in DC-IA-A. The content validity and homogeneity reliability proposed by Aiken were calculated.

Results: The coefficients content validity and homogeneity reliability showed twenty psychiatrists agreed on each of DC-IA-A as relevant to the diagnosis of Internet addiction, though several criteria need improvements. Two criteria "excessive time spent on Internet activities and leaving the Internet" and "excessive effort spent on activities necessary to obtain access to the Internet" should be omitted, and the criteria of "tolerance" should be modified.

Conclusion: The diagnostic criteria for Internet addiction among adolescents should be revised to meet the real condition of this population.

Keywords: Internet addiction; content validity; diagnosis criteria; homogeneity reliability.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Validation Study

MeSH terms

Behavior, Addictive / diagnosis*
Humans
Internet*
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
Psychometrics / methods*
Reproducibility of Results
Taiwan