Psychometric properties and measurement invariance of the Malay version of the YouTube Addiction Scale among university students

Nguyen, TTB, Gan, WY, Huang, Y-T, Tung, SEH, Poon, WC, Siaw, Y-L, Tham, WS, Griffiths, MD ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8880-6524, Pakpour, AH, Lin, C-Y and Huang, P-C, 2026. Psychometric properties and measurement invariance of the Malay version of the YouTube Addiction Scale among university students. Evaluation and the Health Professions. ISSN 0163-2787

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Abstract

The primary objectives of the present cross-sectional study were to translate and culturally adapt the YouTube Addiction Scale (YAS) into Malay and to evaluate its reliability, factorial validity, concurrent validity, and measurement invariance across gender and ethnicity among Malaysian university students. A total of 690 students participated (mean age = 21.29 years [SD ± 2.42]; 74% female). Confirmatory factor analysis supported a unidimensional YAS structure with good fit (CFI = 0.98, TLI = 0.97, SRMR = 0.06, RMSEA = 0.07). The scale exhibited strong reliability (α = 0.83, ω = 0.84) and measurement invariance across gender and ethnicity. YAS scores showed correlation with Smartphone Application-Based Addiction Scale score (r = 0.17, p < 0.001) and Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale score (r = 0.23, p < 0.001), a weak correlation with time spent on social media (r = 0.09, p = 0.02), and no significant relationship with time spent on online gaming (r = 0.03, p = 0.47). The Malay YAS is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing YouTube addiction among Malaysian university students. Its unidimensional structure, strong reliability, robust measurement invariance across gender and ethnicity, and satisfactory concurrent validity support its application in research, screening, and intervention programs.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Evaluation and the Health Professions
Creators:	Nguyen, T.T.B., Gan, W.Y., Huang, Y.-T., Tung, S.E.H., Poon, W.C., Siaw, Y.-L., Tham, W.S., Griffiths, M.D., Pakpour, A.H., Lin, C.-Y. and Huang, P.-C.
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Date:	28 January 2026
ISSN:	0163-2787
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.1177/01632787261419171 DOI 2566795 Other
Rights:	This manuscript has been accepted for publication in the Evaluation & the Health Professions journal from SAGE Publications. Reuse of this accepted manuscript is restricted to non-commercial and no derivative uses. Nguyen TTB, Gan WY, Huang Y-T, et al. Psychometric Properties and Measurement Invariance of the Malay Version of the YouTube Addiction Scale Among University Students. Evaluation & the Health Professions. 2026;0(0). doi:10.1177/01632787261419171
Divisions:	Schools > School of Social Sciences
Record created by:	Melissa Cornwell
Date Added:	13 Feb 2026 16:14
Last Modified:	13 Feb 2026 16:14
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/55273

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