Digital Addiction Scale

What it measures

Measures addictive use of digital technology (smartphones, social media, internet) across Griffiths' six-component addiction model. Captures preoccupation with digital devices, using technology to modify mood, needing increasing use, withdrawal symptoms, conflicts with other activities, and relapse after attempting to cut down.

Response format

Likert (1–5, strongly disagree to strongly agree)

Representative items

• I spend a lot of time thinking about digital technology. (Salience)
• I use digital technology to change my mood. (Mood Modification)
• I need to use digital technology more and more to feel satisfied. (Tolerance)
• I feel irritable when I cannot use digital technology. (Withdrawal)
• Using digital technology has caused problems between me and my family/friends. (Conflict)

Usage notes & scoring

Six subscale scores and a total. Higher scores = greater addictive digital technology use. Based on Griffiths' components model of addiction, which has been applied across substance and behavioural addictions. Available for research use. Widely used in smartphone and social media addiction research.

Recommended companion scales

Citation

Balakrishnan, V., & Griffiths, M.D. (2017). Social media addiction: What is the role of content in YouTube? Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 6(3), 364–369.

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