Background: Although there is growing research on the excessive use of Facebook and its correlates, most studies to date are not directly comparable or generalizable to the overall population as their samples are often limited to students and they use different assessment tools. The first aim of our study was to develop a Spanish version of the Facebook Intrusion Questionnaire (FIQ-S), an instrument which emphasises the social components and consequences of excessive Facebook use. Second, we aimed to examine its psychometric properties: factor structure, reliability and external validity.
Methods: Participants were 567 Spanish adults who completed an online battery of questionnaires, including variables related to addictive behaviours.
Results: Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, using a cross-validation strategy, supported a one-factor structure. The composite reliability value was adequate. Evidence of external validity was provided via correlational analysis, showing a negative association with self-control and positive associations with time spent using social networking sites, problematic mobile phone use, internet addiction, phubbing, fear of missing out and depression.
Conclusions: Results are consistent with the original validation study and confirm the addictive component of the construct measured and highlight the impact of Facebook abuse on mental health.