Validation and psychometric properties of the Ukrainian version of The Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale

Resumen de los autores

Over the past decade, social media have become one of the most prevalent online activities and an integral part of everyday life, leading to a growing scientific interest in their use and impact on mental health. In this context, the translation, cultural adaptation and validation of the assessment instrument on a nationally representative sample of Ukrainian users are particularly important for the reliable evaluation of problematic social media use. The aim of the study was to adapt the Ukrainian version of the six-item Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS), to assess its psychometric properties and to substantiate its applicability for further scientific research in Ukraine. The Ukrainian version of the BSMAS was developed using the forward–backward translation method of the original English version. A total of 566 Ukrainian participants (64 men and 502 women, aged 14–74 years) have completed the BSMAS via online Google Form survey, along with additional instruments measuring internet addiction, difficulties in emotion regulation, stress, anxiety and depression. Data analysis was conducted using StatSoft Statistica 12 and Jamovi software. The findings of the confirmatory factor analysis supported the one-factor structure of the BSMAS. Evaluation of the key fit indices CFI = .980, TLI = .962, RMSEA = .026, SRMR = .026) indicated an acceptable model fit. Reliability estimates (Cronbach’s α = .77; McDonald’s ω = .77; split-half = .82) demonstrated good internal consistency of the scale. Significant correlations were found between the total BSMAS score and CIUS scores, the total score and subscales of the DERS, as well as depression, anxiety and stress indicators measured by the DASS-21, providing evidence of construct validity. The obtained results provide initial evidence supporting the use of the Ukrainian version of the BSMAS as a reliable and valid psychodiagnostic instrument for the accurate assessment of problematic social media use as a component of mental health among Ukrainian-speaking populations in Ukraine and abroad. CRediT Statement Liliia Zhyvotovska: Conceptualization, Formal Analysis, Investigation, Resources, Data Curation, Writing – Review & Editing, Supervision, Project Administration; Svitlana Lukova: Methodology, Software, Validation, Investigation, Data Curation, Writing – Original Draft, Visualization. Disclosure Statement The authors reported no potential conflicts of interest. Generative AI Statement During the preparation of this work the authors did not use any GenAI tools.

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Cómo citar (APA 7)

Zhyvotovska, L., & Lukova, S. (2026). Validation and psychometric properties of the Ukrainian version of The Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale. East European Journal of Psycholinguistics. https://doi.org/10.29038/eejpl.2026.13.1.zhy