Psychometric Validation of the Social Media Fatigue Scale and Social Anxiety Scale for Social Media Users Among Indonesian University Students

Abstract

Background While social media fatigue and social anxiety may shape individuals’ patterns of social media use, validated instruments assessing these constructs remain limited in Southeast Asian contexts. Methods The present study examined the psychometric properties of the Social Media Fatigue Scale (SMFS) and the Social Anxiety Scale for Social Media Users (SAS-SMU) using confirmatory factor analysis. A total of 1012 Indonesian university students completed both instruments. Measurement invariance across gender and academic discipline was further examined. Results Item 13 of the SMFS was removed due to a very low corrected item-total correlation (r = 0.056). After removal, both the Indonesian version of the SMFS and the SAS-SMU demonstrated satisfactory model fit, good internal consistency, and adequate convergent and discriminant validity. Measurement invariance across gender and academic disciplines was also confirmed. Concurrent validity supported that the two constructs were related yet distinct. Conclusion The findings provide evidence for the reliability and validity of both the SMFS and SAS-SMU in the Indonesian context, supporting their future use in research exploring social media-related psychological mechanisms or outcomes.