The Compulsive Internet Use Scale (CIUS)- Japan uses 14 items to assess compulsive use of the Internet. The scale excludes internet use for official activities. This measure was adapted from the original CIUS developed by Meerkerk at el. (2009) and contains 3 sub-scales: excessive absorption, difficulties in setting priorities, and mood regulation.
Geographies Tested: Japan
Populations Included: Female, Male
Age Range: Adolescents, Adults
Excessive Absorption
1. How often do you feel restless, frustrated, or irritated when you cannot use the Internet?
2. How often do you think about the Internet, even when not online?
3. How often do you prefer to use the Internet instead of spending time with others (e.g., partner, children, parents)?
4. How often do others (e.g. partner, children, parents) say you should use the Internet less?
5. How often do you rush through your (home) work in order to go on the Internet?
6. How often do you look forward to your next Internet session?
Difficulties in setting priorities
7. How often do you think you should use the Internet less often?
8. How often do you neglect your daily obligations (work, school, or family life) because you prefer to go on the Internet?
9. How often do you continue to use the Internet despite your intention to stop?
10. How often do you find it difficult to stop using the Internet when you are online?
11. How often are you short of sleep because of Internet?
12. How often have you unsuccessfully tried to spend less time on the Internet?
Mood regulation
13. How often do you go on the Internet when you are feeling down?
14. How often do you use the Internet to escape from your sorrows or get relief from negative feelings?
Response Options:
Never - 0
Seldom - 1
Sometimes - 2
Often - 3
Very often - 4
Scores are summed, with a total score in the range 0–56. The CIUS does not have a predetermined cut-off score for Internet addiction. While a cut-off score of 28 was suggested since this score indicates that the specified Internet use behaviors occur on average at least ‘sometimes’, the author of CIUS suggested that the cut-off score should be carefully considered for respective countries.
Yong, R. K. F., Inoue, A., & Kawakami, N. (2017). The validity and psychometric properties of the Japanese version of the Compulsive Internet Use Scale (CIUS). BMC Psychiatry, 17(1), 201. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-017-1364-5
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