Reliability of the Arabic Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV)

The rapid proliferation of smartphones has reshaped modern lifestyles, particularly in developing countries where mobile technology continues to expand rapidly. In the Arab world, including Jordan, smartphone ownership and internet access are nearly ubiquitous, especially among youth. While smartphones provide numerous benefits, concerns are growing over their excessive use and associated psychological impact. There remains a shortage of culturally validated tools to assess this phenomenon. This study aimed to translate and evaluate the reliability of the Arabic version of the Short Version of the Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS-SV). The final Arabic version was distributed through an online survey targeting first-, second-, and third-year medical students at the Hashemite University. Data were collected in November 2020 via Google Forms, yielding 255 responses, with 248 valid entries used for analysis. Participants had a mean age of 18.85 years (SD = 0.78), with females comprising 61% of the sample. Internal consistency reliability was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha, which was found to be 0.855, indicating strong reliability. Item-total correlation analysis revealed that all items contributed positively to the overall scale reliability. The results support the Arabic SAS-SV as a reliable and efficient instrument for assessing smartphone addiction in Arabic-speaking populations. This study addresses a critical gap in behavioral health assessment in the Arab region and encourages future research and intervention efforts using culturally adapted diagnostic tools.