Development and validation of the WhatsApp Negative Impact scale (WANIS)

Abstract

The use of instant messaging affects different areas of users’ daily lives (personal, social, family, work). The aim of this research was to develop and validate a scale that measures the negative impact of WhatsApp's use in several areas (WANIS). Two studies were conducted. The first one was a pilot study in which the scale was built. The sample consisted of 95 university students aged between 17 and 27. (M = 21.34; SD = 2.11). In the second study, the factor structure was examined and the validity of the scale was analysed from a sample of 630 university students aged between 18 and 62 (M = 21.23; DT = 4.32). The exploratory factor analysis revealed that the three-factor solution was most appropriate for interpreting the scale. The instrument had high reliability and good convergent and discriminant validity. The results indicated that sex, marital status and employment status affected the negative impact experienced by WhatsApp users. This scale has proven to be a valid tool for assessing the impact that this instant messaging application has on controlling intimate relationships, the negative consequences of its use and the problematic use by users.

Interpersonal communication, empathy, and stress perceived by nursing students who use social networks

“…With regard to problematic use of SNS, the score obtained was average. However, previous studies show higher values (Bernal-Ruiz et al, 2019;Leiva-Gutiérrez & Urzúa, 2019). Moreover, a recent study reported that all the nursing students had at least one SNS and on average, had three SNS (Eşer & Alkaya, 2019).…”

“…On the other hand, men scored higher on communicative ability than women. This may be due to the fact that women show more problematic use of SNS (Bernal‐Ruiz et al., 2019). However, additional studies are needed to determine whether men have better communication skills than women.…”

“…The sociodemographic information collected included gender, age, academic course, and daily smartphone use time. The WhatsApp Negative Impact Scale (WANIS), developed by Bernal‐Ruiz, Rosa‐Alcaraz, and González‐Calatayud (2019), was used in this study. The questionnaire consists of 37 items scored on a Likert scale, from 0 ( totally disagree ) to 3 ( totally agree ).…”

The relationship between problematic internet use, WhatsApp and personality

“…The WhatsApp Negative Impact Scale (WANIS; Bernal-Ruiz et al, 2019 ) evaluates the main problems that can arise from the excessive use of this application. It comprises 37 Likert-type format items with values ranging from 0 (Strongly disagree) to 3 (Strongly agree).…”

“…The present study aimed to analyse the relationship between the Big Five Personality Factors and Impulsivity with Problematic Internet Use and the Negative Impact of WhatsApp. The main novelties of the study are twofold: To jointly analyse Problematic Internet Use and WhatsApp and to evaluate the negative impact experienced by WhatsApp users through an innovative scale that has proven to have good psychometric properties and to be very useful ( Bernal-Ruiz, Rosa-Alcázar, & González-Calatayud, 2019 ).…”