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Conflicts in Romantic Relationships over Facebook Use: Validation and Psychometric Study

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The present study evaluates the psychometric properties of the Conflicts in Romantic Relationships Over Facebook Use Scale with a sample of Puerto Rican adults. A total of 300 Puerto Ricans participated in this confirmatory and psychometric study. The results confirmed that the scale has a multidimensional structure. These dimensions are: Partner Facebook intrusion, Conflict over Facebook use, and Jealousy over Facebook use. A total of 18 items complied with the criteria of discrimination and presented appropriate factorial loads (six items per dimension). The Cronbach's alpha indexes of the dimensions ranged between 0.87-0.95, and the omega coefficients ranged between 0.88-0.95. In summary, the instrument has the appropriate psychometric properties to continue with validation studies, as well as to be implemented in various work areas, both theoretical and applied.
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Behav. Sci. 2019, 9, 18; doi:10.3390/bs9020018 www.mdpi.com/journal/behavsci
Article
Conflicts in Romantic Relationships over Facebook
Use: Validation and Psychometric Study
Juan Aníbal González-Rivera 1,* and Idania Hernández-Gato 2
1 School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University, San Juan University Center, 388
Zona Industrial Reparada 2, Ponce, PR 00716, USA
2 San Juan Campus, Carlos Albizu University, 151 Calle Tanca San Juan, PR 00901, USA;
ihernandez759@sunmail.albizu.edu
* Correspondence: jagonzalez@psm.edu
Received: 6 January 2019; Accepted: 2 February 2019; Published: 10 February 2019
Abstract: The present study evaluates the psychometric properties of the Conflicts in Romantic
Relationships Over Facebook Use Scale with a sample of Puerto Rican adults. A total of 300 Puerto
Ricans participated in this confirmatory and psychometric study. The results confirmed that the
scale has a multidimensional structure. These dimensions are: Partner Facebook intrusion, Conflict
over Facebook use, and Jealousy over Facebook use. A total of 18 items complied with the criteria
of discrimination and presented appropriate factorial loads (six items per dimension). The
Cronbach’s alpha indexes of the dimensions ranged between 0.87–0.95, and the omega coefficients
ranged between 0.88–0.95. In summary, the instrument has the appropriate psychometric
properties to continue with validation studies, as well as to be implemented in various work areas,
both theoretical and applied.
Keywords: Facebook; Facebook intrusion; couple relationships; conflicts; jealousy; psychometric
properties; validation
1. Introduction
Facebook (FB) is considered the most popular social network site (SNS). At the end of third
quarter of 2018, the platform had 2.27 billion monthly active users worldwide [1]. For the same year,
statistics regarding daily use indicated that more than half of United States residents (53%) use FB
several times a day, average access to FB is eight times per day, and 35 million users update their
statuses daily [2]. This SNS has several implications on its users’ interpersonal life, given the
opportunities that they encounter to establish new relationships and maintain current ones [3].
However, despite the current advantages that SNSs provide, some authors sustain the negative
effects associated with their continuous use [4–6]. For example, regarding romantic relationships,
excessive attachment to FB might generate conflicts, disagreements, discussions, and jealousy in the
relationship [5–8].
Even though in other countries there are instruments that measure variables associated with
conflicts in romantic relationships related to technology [9] and cell phone use [10], neither in Latin
America nor Puerto Rico are there instruments in Spanish that measure the consequences of the
excessive FB use in romantic relationships. Considering this, the objective of this study was to
develop a scale that allows the measurement of conflicts over FB use in a tridimensional model
(Partner FB intrusion, Conflict over FB use, and Jealousy over FB use). The creation of a valid and
reliable instrument that explores conflicts in romantic relationships due to FB intrusion will be of
added value to the scientific community that explores these issues, mainly in Latin America and the
Caribbean.
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1.1. Theoretical Framework
Romantic relationships could be defined as the free and voluntary union of two individuals
who share a life project of common existence that is long-lasting, in which strong feelings of
belonging are generated; there is a personal commitment among its members, and intense linkages
of intimacy, reciprocity, and dependence are established [11]. In this regard, it is timely to make
explicit that this definition includes both heterosexual and homosexual couples, couples who have
formalized their relationship legally through marriage and those who have not, as well as cohabiting
couples and couples that are not living together. Whereas, conflict is defined as a social phenomenon
that occurs in the interaction among individuals or groups, where there are disagreements and
incompatibilities, and hostilities may develop. In terms of romantic relationships, response patterns
to conflicts and stress coping styles have implications in the future of the relationship [12].
There are several theoretical models that explore stress in romantic relationships, among them
is the systemic transactional model of dyadic coping [13,14]. This model is focused on the impact of
the effect of daily stress in relationship functioning (time share together, communication, and
well-being), and how those mediators are associated with relationship satisfaction and the
probability of breakup. The model suggests that everyday stressors affect relationship functioning,
causing disaffection, and slowly deteriorating its quality over time. Specifically, the model proposed
that stress will affect the quality of the romantic relationship as follows: a) decreasing the shared
time, considerably affecting their emotional intimacy; b) decreasing the quality of communication; c)
increasing the risk of physical and psychological problems; and d) increasing the likelihood that the
most problematic features of personality will be expressed between the partners in the form of
rigidity, anxiety, and hostility. The likelihood of distance and separation increases when partners
talk less about their private experiences, needs, and interests, which gradually favors the presence of
more conflicts [14].
The development of information and communications technologies have favored the use of the
internet and social networks to become one of the stressors in romantic relationships. Scientific
studies have been consistent in demonstrating that the intrusion or interference of technology in
interpersonal relationships can generate intrafamily conflicts, as well as negatively affect romantic
relationships [9,10]. There is even scientific literature that suggests that the stress caused by the
interference of technology and social networks deteriorates the general well-being of individuals
[9,10,15].
1.2. Facebook Intrusion in Romantic Relationships
FB intrusion is characterized by an individual’s constant need to access FB, which interferes
with its daily functioning, and as a result, interpersonal relationships are impacted [6]. Studies that
explore FB intrusion and its consequences on the diverse aspects of an individual’s life are currently
limited. Some research has associated this intrusion with variables such as depression [16–18], low
self-esteem [4,18], fear of rejection [18], and an intense need to be accepted by others [4]. Likewise,
individuals with high levels of FB intrusion can experiment distress in moments where they are
unable to access FB [6], and they usually show characteristics that are frequently observed in people
with addiction disorders, such as tolerance, withdrawal, and relapse [19].
As mentioned above, the constant FB use can cause a negative effect on interpersonal
relationships, especially romantic relationships. This happens because the deep emotional
attachment to this SNS interferes with the couple’s daily activities. Consequently, the members of
the relationship may feel tense, insecure, and unsatisfied [6]. Likewise, other authors have pointed
out the negative impact of addictive behaviors on intimate relationships and emphasized the lack of
satisfaction among the members of the relationship when FB becomes a nuisance when intervening
within daily relationship functioning [8]. In this research, we will use the term Partner FB intrusion
to refer to how a person perceives that the use of FB by their partner interferes or interrupts the
physical and emotional interaction that they may have, such as accessing FB when they eat, talk, or
share time together.
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1.3. Conflicts over Facebook Use
It has been shown in several studies that the use of technology may cause conflicts in romantic
relationships, negatively affect the communication between couples, and impact the emotional
well-being of the members at times when they are sharing quality time together [9,10,20]. Alike, the
way in which one of the members perceives technology use by its partner plays an important role in
relationship satisfaction [9,21]. Another study demonstrated that relationship intimacy is affected by
the partner’s perception toward FB use, and not only by using the SNS [22]. Identifying the use of FB
as a problematic issue creates a barrier that weakens couple’s intimacy and, as a result, significant
conflicts can be developed.
Internet use in general, as well as the excessive use of SNSs (e.g., FB), has shown to be a threat
against romantic relationships [5]. Some people use FB to monitor their partner’s activities. It has
been proven that these behaviors are highly counterproductive, since they tend to create conflicts in
the relationship, and be a possible precursor for future breakups [23]. For example, a study
conducted with 190 newlyweds revealed that compulsive Internet use deteriorates the relationship
and causes negative feelings in the affected partner [24]. On the other hand, a research study
conducted with South Asian, Europeans, and North American participants confirmed the negative
effects of the excessive FB use when reaffirming that those behaviors result in the decrease of
relationship quality [25].
1.4. Jealousy over Facebook Use
Despite the positive effects, such as feelings of satisfaction and social integration, that various
researches confirm over FB use [26–28], other studies have suggested that excessive behaviors (e.g.,
spend much of the time in social networks) can predispose jealousy in romantic relationships, and as
a result, relationship satisfaction may decrease. A research conducted in Australia was the first
exploring the impact of FB intrusion and jealousy in relationship satisfaction [6]. The findings
confirmed that relationship satisfaction is only affected negatively when FB intrusion generates
jealousy and one of the members in the relationship engages in surveillance behaviors.
Another research conducted in Canada, with a sample composed mostly of women between the
ages of 17–24 years, revealed a significant association between the time spent on FB and jealousy as a
response to this behavior [8]. In this study, participants expressed the feelings of insecurity caused
by FB. Even participants who had full confidence in their partners became jealous in situations
where other people posted messages on their FB wall. Some expressed that they understood that
their feelings of jealousy could be real or imaginary, and those who already felt jealousy and
insecurity in their relationship expressed that FB had worsened the situation. In this study, as well as
in other research, women obtained higher scores on jealousy compared to men [7,8].
1.5. Instruments to Measure Conflicts in Romantic Relationships
Some researchers have made efforts to validate instruments that allow the measurement of
variables associated with conflicts in romantic relationships due to the use of technology. For
example, Elphinston and Noller [6] contributed to the advancement of this field through developing
the Facebook Intrusion Questionnaire (FIQ), which consists of eight items and obtained an internal
consistency index of 0.85. The FIQ allows a self-evaluation of the cognitive and behavioral areas
related to FB use, possible conflicts, as well as other consequences, such as the emergence of certain
behaviors observed in people with addiction disorders. It should be mentioned that the FIQ was not
designed to assess Partner FB intrusion. There are other instruments that do not directly measure FB
intrusion, but they evaluate the interference of technology in romantic relationships. One of them is
the Partner Phubbing Scale [10], which consists of nine items that measure how a person perceives
that his/her partner ignores him/her in favor of paying more attention to their mobile device.
González-Rivera, Segura, and Urbistondo [29] translated and validated the scale in a sample of
Puerto Rican adults, obtaining outstanding psychometric properties and an adequate internal
consistency index = 0.93). Other measurements available include the Technology Device
Behav. Sci. 2019, 9, 18 4 of 13
Interference Scale (TDIS) and the Technology Interference in Life Examples Scale (TILES), which
enable assessing the interference of technology and the participant’s perception about this
interference in their romantic relationship. Both scales were developed by McDaniel and Coyne [9],
and they obtained an internal consistency index of 0.67 and 0.85, respectively.
Regarding the instruments that assess conflicts in romantic relationships, there is a
questionnaire developed by Clayton, Nagurney, and Smith [5] that measured the negative effects in
romantic relationships as a result of FB use. The questionnaire obtained an internal consistency
index of 0.85. On the other hand, the Conflict over Technology Use Scale [9] evaluates the frequency
with which participants perceives that technology causes conflicts in their relationship. At the same
time, Roberts and David [10] developed the Cell Phone Conflict Scale, which consists of 10 items that
measure a participant’s perception related to cell phone use, as a source for the development of
conflicts in their romantic relationship. This scale was translated and validated by González-Rivera
et al. [29], showing an appropriate internal consistency index of 0.91.
As for jealousy, Muise, Christofides, and Desmarais [8] developed the Facebook Jealousy Scale,
which compiled a list of items that displays the aspects of this SNS that have the potential to be a
trigger for romantic jealousy. The scale has 27 items and an internal consistency index of 0.96. In
summary, there is no instrument in Spanish or English that simultaneously evaluates partner FB
intrusion, conflicts associated with this behavior, and the jealousy created in response.
1.6. Purpose of the Study
The objective of this study is to develop, validate, and examine the psychometric properties of
the Conflicts in Romantic Relationships Over FB Use Scale using advanced statistics. Explicitly, this
study has four main objectives:
1. Analyze the factor structure of the Conflicts in Romantic Relationships Over FB Use Scale
through confirmatory factor analysis with structural equations.
2. Analyze the discrimination capacity of the instrument’s items.
3. Analyze the reliability of the instrument and its factors through the internal consistency
indexes of Cronbach and omega.
4. Analyze the convergent and divergent validity of the factors through the analysis of
average variance extracted (AVE), maximum shared variance (MSV), and the average
shared variance (ASV).
2. Methods
2.1. Research Design
This study has an instrumental design [30], where all of the psychometric properties of the
Conflicts in Romantic Relationships Over FB Use Scale through confirmatory factor analysis were
examined. In this way, the factor structure of the instrument was tested, and the proposed objectives
were met. This research was approved by the Institutional Ethics for Research Committee of the
Carlos Albizu University, San Juan Campus, Puerto Rico (Code SP18-32). The data compilation was
carried out by using online questionnaires through the PsychData platform and posting a paid ad in
the main social networks as a recruitment method: FB, Twitter, Google+, and WhatsApp, among
others. This ad redirected the participants to the online survey, where they read the informed
consent, which notified them of the following: (a) the purpose of the study, (b) inclusion criteria, (c)
the voluntary nature of the study, (d) possible risks and benefits, and (e) their right to withdraw
from the study at any time. To guarantee the privacy and confidentiality of the participants, the
questionnaires were completed anonymously, and they were able to print a copy of the informed
consent.
2.2. Participants
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A non-probabilistic sample of 300 adults, with an average age of 32.87 (SD = 7.096) was used.
Sociodemographic data of the sample is presented in Table 1. The following inclusive criteria was
established for participating in the study: (1) to be of 21 years or more, (2) be a Puerto Rican resident,
(3) be in a relationship for one year or more (married or cohabiting), and (4) partner must have an
active FB account.
Table 1. Sociodemographic data of the sample.
n %
Sex
Female
Male
150
150
50%
50%
Academic Preparation
High school or less
Associate degree/technical
Bachelor’s degree
Master’s degree
Doctoral degree
46
85
113
38
18
15.3%
28.3%
37.7%
12.7%
6.0%
Type of Relationship
Marriage
Cohabiting (free union)
110
190
36.7%
63.3%
Annual Income
$0–25,000
$26,000–50,000
$51,000–75,000
$76,000–100,000
$101,000 or more
196
72
23
4
5
65.3%
24.0%
7.7%
1.3%
1.7%
Note: N = 300.
2.3. Measurement
Sociodemographic Data. To identify the sociodemographic characteristics of the sample, we
developed a general data questionnaire composed of relevant data such as age, sex, academic
preparation, type of relationship, and annual income.
Conflicts in Romantic Relationships Over FB Use Scale. This instrument was developed by the
principal researcher to measure conflicts over FB use in a tridimensional model: Partner FB
intrusion, Conflict over FB use, and Jealousy over FB use. For this, the principal researcher originally
developed 30 items (10 by dimension) that were submitted to the opinion of eight judges with the
objective of identifying whether the items of the instruments were pertinent (Lawshe method). The
Content Validity Ratio (CVRcritical) was used to refuse or withhold the items. To interpret the results,
we used the critical values recalculated by Wilson et al. [31]. According to these authors, the
minimum value required for eight judges was 0.693 (level of significance for two-tailed test = 0.05) to
accept a value as essential. After making the calculation, we identified eight items with values less
than 0.693 that were eliminated from the instrument. The 22-item version was rated using a
five-point Likert scale: 1 (Never), 2 (Seldom), 3 (Sometimes), 4 (Usually), and 5 (Always). In this study,
the three subscales obtained an internal consistency index of Cronbach’s alpha that ranged between
0.90–0.95.
2.4. Data Analysis
In this study, the STATA 15 statistical program was used to perform descriptive statistics
(means and typical deviations), data distribution analysis (kurtosis, skewness, Kolmogorov–
Smirnov, Shapiro–Wilk), item discrimination index, factor reliability analysis, and correlations
among the total scores of the three subscales. Besides, a confirmatory factor analysis with the
maximum likelihood estimation method and Satorra–Bentler adjustments were made; these
corrections are used when data is not normally distributed [32]. To evaluate the adjustment of the
Behav. Sci. 2019, 9, 18 6 of 13
models, we used the following adjustment indexes: Chi-square test 2), root mean square error of
approximation (RMSEA), Tucker–Lewis Index (TLI), Comparative Fit Index (CFI), and Akaike
Information Criterion (AIC). RMSEA values less than 0.05 indicate an adequate adjustment of the
model [33]. Likewise, CFI and TLI values greater than 0.90 represent an adequate adjustment of the
model [33]. AIC is used to examine the parsimony and compare the models; the model with the
lower index shows a lower adjustment [34]. Meanwhile, the regression coefficients of each item on
its respective factor should exceed 0.50 to be considered adequate [35].
Once the best adjustment model was identified, an item discrimination analysis through
item-total correlation was carried out (rbis). Those items greater than 0.30 have acceptable
discrimination indexes [36]. At the same time, the reliability of the factors was computed using the
Cronbach’s alpha coefficient and the omega coefficient; both indexes should be greater than 0.70
[37,38]. In addition, following the recommendations of Fornell and Larcker [39], convergent and
discriminant validity was examined through the average variance extracted (AVE). To support
convergent validity, the AVE must be equal to or greater than 0.50, with which it is established that
more than 50% of the variance of the construct is due to its indicators [40]. Moreover, to determine
the discriminant validity for each dimension, the maximum shared variance (MSV) and average
shared variance (ASV) should be less than the individual AVE value obtained for each factor.
Last, an analysis of factorial invariance among two groups (men and women) was carried out.
This procedure was performed in three steps. First, a preliminary analysis was carried out where the
goodness-of-fit of the same model was examined separately in the two samples under study. The
next step in the invariance evaluation required the numbers of factors and the pattern of factorial
loads to be the same among all of the groups. This model is a denominated configural model, and it
is used as a baseline model in the analysis. Once the goodness-of-fit for the configural model was
established, the metric invariance test between the groups was carried out. To compare the models,
the changes in the χ2 (which must be non-significant) and in the CFI were taken into consideration.
The measurement model is completely invariant if the value found in the ΔCFI is lower than 0.01.
3. Results
3.1. Descriptive Analysis of the Items
First, means and standard deviations were calculated for each item to analyze the distribution
properties of the scale. The means of the items ranged between 2.67–4.42, with standard deviations
ranging between 0.81–1.45. The Kolmogorov–Smirnov and Shapiro–Wilk normality tests
demonstrated that the data was not normally distributed (p < 0.001; see Table 2). Given that the data
was not normally distributed, Satorra–Bentler adjustments were used to calculate the adjustment of
the structural equation models, since the non-normality of the data changes the estimation errors
and the global adjustment of the model [32].
Table 2. Descriptive and distribution statistics of the items in the final version of the instrument.
Item M SD Skewness Kurtosis Kolmogoro
v–Smirnov
Shapiro–
Wilk
1 3.92 1.01 −0.45 −0.85 0.23 0.85
2 3.54 1.06 −0.20 −0.60 0.21 0.89
3 3.67 1.02 −0.33 −0.55 0.19 0.89
4 4.42 0.81 −1.41 1.63 0.35 0.72
5 4.00 0.95 −0.59 −0.41 0.22 0.85
7 3.59 1.19 −0.33 −0.93 0.19 0.88
8 3.49 1.35 −0.40 −1.04 0.20 0.87
9 3.28 1.25 −0.15 −0.89 0.18 0.90
11 3.63 1.29 −0.55 −0.81 0.20 0.86
12 3.68 1.34 −0.61 −0.83 0.24 0.84
13 3.41 1.42 −0.35 −1.19 0.20 0.86
14 3.28 1.39 −0.22 −1.18 0.17 0.88
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15 3.19 1.18 −0.24 −0.51 0.22 0.89
16 3.04 1.26 −0.06 −0.87 0.18 0.91
17 2.99 1.33 −0.04 −1.07 0.16 0.90
20 2.84 1.38 0.13 −1.16 0.14 0.89
21 3.06 1.35 −0.08 −1.12 0.14 0.90
22 3.15 1.45 −0.07 −1.32 0.17 0.88
Note: M = Mean; SD = Standard Deviation; Skewness standard error = 0.14; Kurtosis standard error =
0.28. Degrees of freedom Kolmogorov–Smirnov and Shapiro–Wilk = 300, all the values p < 0.001.
3.2. Structure Validity
The factor structure of the instrument was examined through confirmatory factor analysis with
structural equations using the maximum likelihood estimation method. So that, three competitive
models were evaluated: a unifactorial model (M1), where the 22 original items were loaded to one
factor, a tridimensional model, where the 22 original items were loaded on its respective factor (M2),
and a tridimensional model with six items in each of the factors (M3). The M1 did not show an
adequate adjustment to the data (see Table 3). This suggests that the factor structure of the scale is
not conformed by a single factor. On the other hand, the M2 showed an adequate adjustment (see
Table 3), but some items reflected regression coefficients less than 0.50. For this reason, to achieve
greater parsimony in the measurement model, it was decided to retain the six items with the highest
regression coefficients in each dimension, considering that these were greater than 0.50. After
eliminating items six, 10, 18, and 19, M3 was obtained, as it presented an adequate adjustment (see
Table 3), and all of its items reflected regression coefficients greater than 0.50. The regression
coefficients ranged between 0.55–0.90 (see Table 4).
Table 3. Goodness-of-fit test for analyzed models.
Model
χ2 χ2sb GL RMSEA
RMSEAsb
CFI CFIsb TLI TLIsb AIC
M1 1782.76 1590.44 209 0.16 0.15 0.69 0.71 0.66 0.67 17,946.21
M2 645.19 574.82 206 0.08 0.08 0.92 0.92 0.90 0.91 16,814.64
M3 417.56 367.57 132 0.08 0.07 0.94 0.94 0.93 0.93 13,284.36
Note. sb = Satorra–Bentler adjustments; χ2 = Chi-square test; χ2sb= Corrected Chi-square test; GL =
degrees of freedom; RMSEA = root mean square error of approximation; RMSEAsb = corrected
RMSEA; CFI = Comparative Fit Index; CFIsb = Corrected CFI; TLI = Tucker–Lewis Index; TLIsb =
Corrected TLI; AIC = Akaike Information Criterion; All statistics χ2 and χ2sb are significant, p < 0.001.
3.3. Item Analysis
With the 18 items that made up the M3, the discrimination indexes of the three factors through
an item-total correlation index (rbis) were examined. For the Partner FB intrusion factor, the indexes
ranged between 0.51–0.75; for the Conflict over FB use factor, the indexes ranged between 0.76–0.89;
and for the Jealousy over FB use factor, the indexes ranged between 0.81–0.90. All of the items
obtained discrimination indexes greater than 0.30, as recommended in the literature [36,37]. Table 4
presents the discrimination indexes of the items and the standardized regression coefficients.
Table 4. Item discrimination indexes, regression coefficients (β) on its respective dimensions, and
confidence intervals. FB: Facebook.
Items rbis
β I.C. 95%
Partner FB Intrusion
1. My partner accesses FB while we are sharing a casual dinner. 0.71 0.76 [0.71, 0.81]
2. My partner uses FB while we are having a conversation. 0.75 0.82 [0.78, 0.86]
3. My partner uses FB when we are sharing time together. 0.69 0.75 [0.67, 0.82]
4. My partner uses FB before going to bed. 0.51 0.55 [0.47, 0.63]
5. My partner uses FB while doing outdoor activities. 0.70 0.74 [0.68, 0.79]
7. My partner access FB if there is a break in our conversation. 0.70 0.78 [0.73, 0.83]
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Items rbis
β I.C. 95%
Conflict over FB Use
8. I have spoken to my partner about my discomfort over their
excessive FB use. 0.75 0.76 [0.71, 0.81]
9. My partner and I have had discussions due to their recurrent FB use. 0.81 0.82 [0.78, 0.86]
11. The frequency with which my partner uses FB really bothers me. 0.82 0.87 [0.84, 0.91]
12. My partner’s frequent use of FB makes me feel ignored. 0.83 0.89 [0.86, 0.92]
13. I have expressed to my partner that it bothers me when he/she
interrupts a conversation to use FB. 0.78 0.80 [0.75, 0.84]
14. My partner’s frequent use of FB is affecting our relationship. 0.82 0.88 [0.85, 0.91]
Jealousy over FB Use
15. I feel jealous due to my partner’s frequent use of FB. 0.83 0.86 [0.83, 0.89]
16. I feel jealous due to my partner’s interaction with other people. 0.82 0.85 [0.81, 0.88]
17. My partner’s frequent use of FB makes me think that he/she will
cheat on me. 0.88 0.90 [0.88, 0.93]
20. My partner’s frequent use of FB makes me suspect that he/she is
lying to me. 0.85 0.88 [0.84, 0.92]
21. My partner’s FB use has motivated me to verify with whom he/she
is interacting on social networks. 0.79 0.81 [0.76, 0.86]
22. I constantly think about what my partner is doing when he/she is
in FB for so long. 0.84 0.88 [0.85, 0.91]
Note: β = standardized regression coefficients; p = significance; I.C. 95% = confidence intervals of
regression coefficients.
3.4. Reliability
Then, Cronbach’s alpha internal consistency indexes and omegas coefficients were calculated
for the three factors in the scale (Partner FB intrusion, Conflict over FB use, and Jealousy over FB
use). The Cronbach alpha indexes of the factors ranged from 0.87 to 0.95, and the omegas coefficients
ranged from 0.88 to 0.95. These indexes exceed the minimum recommended by the literature (0.70)
to be considered a reliable instrument [37,38].
3.5. Convergent and Discriminant Validity
Both discriminant and convergent validity were examined through the average variance
extracted (AVE). This indicates the variance explained by the construct in the items. The higher the
value of the AVE, the lower the error variance. The AVE values obtained for the factors ranged
between 0.55–0.75 (see table 5). For the AVE to be considered as acceptable, the scores must be equal
to or greater than 0.50 [39]. Regarding the discriminant validity, the MSV and the ASV of the factors
were lower than the AVE (see Table 5). Furthermore, the relationship between the factors in the scale
on its final version (M3) was analyzed through Pearson’s correlation coefficient. The result obtained
proved significant positive relationships that ranged between 0.41–0.71 (see Table 5).
Table 5. Means, standard deviations, alphas, omega coefficient, average variance extracted, and
correlations.
M SD α
AVE MSV
ASV
1 2 3
1. Partner FB intrusion 23.12 4.77 0.87 0.88 0.55 0.48 0.34 - 0.69** 0.44**
2. Conflict over FB use 20.77 6.97 0.93 0.93 0.70 0.59 0.54 0.62** - 0.77**
3. Jealousy over FB use 18.62 7.04 0.95 0.95 0.75 0.59 0.39 0.41** 0.71** -
Note. M = Mean; SD = standard deviation; 𝛼 = Cronbach’s alpha coefficient;
= omega coefficient;
ASV = average variance extracted; MSV = maximum shared variance; ASV = average shared variance;
** = significant correlations p < 0.001. The values on the diagonal represent the correlations between
the latent factors, while the values below the diagonal represent the correlations of the direct scores.
3.6. Analysis of Factorial Invariance across Sex
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First, the descriptive data of the measures across sex was calculated (see Table 6). Then, the
measurement model was estimated independently for women and men; both groups reached
adequate adjustment indexes (see Table 7). Then, it proceeded to the restriction factor saturation
through the equivalence of structural relationships in the samples (metric invariance). The
configural model was used as a baseline to be contrasted with the metric model through χ2 and
ΔCFI. The model showed an adequate fit, but the value of ΔCFI was greater than 0.01 (see Table 7).
At the same time, the increase of χ2 (Δχ2 = 94.7, p < 0.001) was statistically significant, confirming the
absence of factorial invariance.
Table 6. Descriptive data of the measures across sex.
N M SD Median Min. Max. Range
Partner FB intrusion
Women
Men
150
150
23.99
22.25
5.22
4.09
25.00
21.50
11
13
30
30
19
17
Conflict over FB use
Women
Men
150
150
23.27
18.26
5.49
7.39
24.00
19.00
11
6
30
30
19
24
Jealousy over FB use
Women
Men
150
150
21.47
15.09
5.35
7.10
21.00
15.00
8
6
30
30
22
24
Note. N = participants; M = means; SD = standard deviation; Min. = minimum; Max. = maximum. (N = 300).
Table 7. Adjustment indexes for compared models in the factorial invariance analysis.
Model χ2 GL RMSEA CFI TLI AIC ∆χ2 p CFI
Women 232.40 130 0.07 0.94 0.93 314.397
Men 252.17 132 0.08 0.95 0.95 330.173
Configural 566.30 264 0.06 0.924 0.912 722.337
Metric 661.00 282 0.07 0.905 0.900 781.045 94.7 <0.001 0.019
Note. χ2 = Chi-square test; GL = degrees of freedom; RMSEA = root mean square error of
approximation; CFI = Comparative Fit Index; TLI = Tucker–Lewis Index; AIC = Akaike Information
Criterion.
4. Discussion
Although several authors have developed instruments that measure variables associated with
conflicts in romantic relationships triggered by technology [9,10], neither in Latin America nor
Puerto Rico are there instruments in Spanish that evaluate the consequences of the excessive FB use
in romantic relationships. For this reason, it is urgent to propose to the Latin American scientific
community a valid and reliable instrument to evaluate this phenomenon. To that effect, the main
objective of this research was to develop, validate, and examine the psychometric properties of the
Conflicts in Romantic Relationships Over FB Use Scale in a sample of Puerto Rican adults. From the
results obtained, we can conclude that the instrument has the appropriate psychometric properties
to measure conflicts in romantic relationships in three different, but correlated dimensions: Partner
FB intrusion, Conflicts over FB use, and Jealousy over FB use. In addition, the obtained reliability
indexes suggest, as established in the literature [37,38], that the three subscales have enough internal
consistency to be used as a scientific measurement for future research in Puerto Rico and other
Spanish-speaking countries.
In general, the confirmatory factor analysis showed that the data in the hypothesized model
presented a satisfactory adjustment and confirmed the tridimensional structure of the instrument,
which suggests that it appropriately fits the theoretical conceptualization used by the author to
develop the items of the instrument: partner FB intrusion, conflict over FB use, and jealousy over FB
use. These three factors should be considered as independent scales that examine different
dimensions of conflicts in romantic relationships over FB use. In fact, the moderate correlation
between the factors clearly suggests three differentiable variables. The first subscale, Partner FB
Behav. Sci. 2019, 9, 18 10 of 13
intrusion, evaluates the frequency with which participants perceive that FB use by their partner
interferes in their relationship. That is, it measures the frequency with which their partner accesses
FB while they are having dinner, during a conversation, before going to sleep, and during outdoor
activities, among others. The scientific literature has consistently associated these behaviors with
feelings of insecurity and dissatisfaction in romantic relationships [6,8–10,15,24].
On the other hand, the second subscale, Conflict over FB Use, examines the frequency with
which participants perceive that FB use generates conflicts in their relationship. Precisely, it assesses
perceived discomfort, arguments, rejection, and deterioration in the relationship. There is scientific
evidence that confirms that the use of technology, the Internet, social networks, and cell phones at
times when couples are trying to share quality time can create conflicts in the relationship, adversely
affect communication, and impact their emotional well-being [6,9,10,20,29]. Finally, the third
subscale, Jealousy over FB use, examines those behaviors and feelings associated with the jealousy
experienced by an individual when his/her partner uses FB. Measuring this variable is particularly
important given that research has shown that the excessive use of social networks can predispose
jealousy in romantic relationships, and consequently, the decrease of relationship satisfaction and
possible breakups may occur [6,8].
Regarding the reliability of the scale, indexes higher than the minimum recommended by the
scientific literature were obtained in the three subscales [37,38]. This suggests that the final version of
the scale is a stable, reproducible, and consistent instrument in the measurement of partner conflicts
over FB use. Similarly, the correlations of each item with the total score demonstrate an outstanding
internal consistency. This suggests that the items of the final version adequately discriminate and
can differentiate people with diverse levels of conflict associated with FB use in the relationship. The
findings also provide support for the convergent validity of the scale, given that the average
variance extracted, and the standardized factor loadings of the items exceeded the minimum
recommended by the literature [39,40]. As to discriminant validity, the results showed that the three
factors do not share a substantial amount of variance with each other, and each measures different
dimensions.
As another important theoretical contribution, our results confirmed that the structure of the
instrument is not equivalent between men and women. The absence of factorial invariance makes it
impossible for comparisons between women and men to be made, since they could generate
erroneous or biased interpretations about the differences found, and it is not certain that they are the
result of the real differences in the construct or different responses to the items of the instrument
[41,42]. That is, women and men do not experience or interpret conflicts over FB use in the same
way, nor do they give the same meaning. Three possible explanations for this finding are inferred.
First, women are more aware of the negative implications of FB use in their romantic relationship, so
they will be more careful when using FB during quality moments that they share with their partner.
Second, women have higher expectations than men about sharing quality time, communication
patterns, and being present in the relationship [29,43]; that is, they expect more from the
relationship, and therefore will be more sensitive to the negative consequences of social network use.
The third possible explanation is that men, due to cultural and gender issues, do not recognize that
their relationship is vulnerable due to the frequent FB use and ignore the signs that prove these
problems (e.g., discussions related to FB use), while women are more intuitive in their emotions. It is
necessary that future investigations deepen on this matter.
In practical terms, it was demonstrated that the final version of the Conflicts in Romantic
Relationships Over FB Use Scale can be used for the development of new research in the psychology
field in the Caribbean. This is a great advancement, given that in Puerto Rico or the Caribbean, there
was no instrument to examine this phenomenon. In addition, it would make it easier for couple
therapists to perform screening and appraisals to understand how FB use affects relationship
well-being. Recent research in Puerto Rico has shown that the use of technology and SNSs
negatively impact relationship satisfaction and the mental health of the individuals [20,29]. For this
reason, together with the empirical evidence presented in this paper on the negative effects of FB in
Behav. Sci. 2019, 9, 18 11 of 13
romantic relationships, the developed instrument is a practical and effective measurement in the
research work of behavioral professionals.
The final version of the instrument consists of 18 items distributed across three subscales (six
items in each). The scores must be calculated by adding the six items of each subscale separately to
obtain a specific score. Given the independence of the constructs, a measure should not be generated
with the sum of the three subscales. The order of the items in the final version was by category; the
first six items correspond to the partner FB intrusion subscale, the following six items belong to the
conflict over FB use subscale, and the last six items belong to the jealousy over FB use subscale. The
possible scores of all subscales range from 6 to 30.
As with all research, our study has some limitations. First, the sample gathered was a
convenience one, so it was not random. Second, it was not possible to establish the reliability of the
instrument over time, as it could only be done through its components. Though, the advanced
techniques that were used in the study provide empirical strength to our results. Finally, the
procedure to collect the data was not standardized, and this may affect the study means and increase
the standard error. Despite its limitations, it is worth mentioning the several strengths that this
research holds. In the first place, it is the first developed and validated instrument in Puerto Rico and
the Caribbean to measure conflicts in romantic relationships over FB use. In fact, there is no
instrument in Spanish or English that simultaneously assesses partner FB intrusion, the conflicts
over FB use, and the jealousy experienced by people over FB use. In addition, it offers the
Spanish-speaking scientific community a reliable and valid instrument that will enrich research
aimed at understanding the ways in which couples perceive that frequent FB use impacts their
relationships.
For future research, it is recommended to administer the scale to another sample of participants
to perform the cross-validation procedure. It would also be an added value to examine the temporal
reliability through the test–retest technique and perform a new confirmatory factor analysis. It is
recommended to validate the Conflicts in Romantic Relationships Over FB Use Scale in other Latin
American populations to investigate their psychometric properties in diverse national and
international contexts. This will allow the comparison of the behavior of the scale in different
international contexts and will facilitate studying the FB phenomenon from a multicultural
perspective.
5. Conclusions
The present study showed that the Conflicts in Romantic Relationships Over FB Use Scale has
appropriate psychometric properties, which implies a high reliability and a solid internal structure
of three latent factors. Given this, it is concluded that the instrument is useful to investigate the
phenomenon of partner FB intrusion, the conflicts created as a result, and the jealousy experienced
by people. It is expected that the developed instrument will be of benefit for its use in the fields of
application and research. In the clinical setting, the instrument can be used to identify and prevent
problems associated with FB use in romantic relationships, as well as collaborating in the design of
future therapeutic interventions.
Author Contributions: Conceptualization, J.A.G.-R.; methodology, J.A.G.-R.; validation, J.A.G.-R.; formal
analysis, J.A.G.-R; investigation, J.A.G.-R. and I.H.G; resources, J.A.G.-R. and I.H.G; data curation, J.A.G.-R.;
writing—original draft preparation, J.A.G.-R. and I.H.G; writing—review and editing, J.A.G.-R. and I.H.G;
visualization, J.A.G.-R. and I.H.G; supervision, J.A.G.-R.; project administration, J.A.G.-R.
Funding: This research received no external funding.
Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı sosyotelizm (phubbing), kişilerin duygu durumları, benlik saygısı, yaşam doyumu ve ruhsal bozukluk belirtilerinin düzeyleri arasındaki ilişkileri incelemektir. Yöntem: Çalışmanın evrenini 18 yaş üzeri ve akıllı telefon kullanan kişiler oluşturmaktadır. Çalışmaya toplam 134 kişi katılmıştır. Veri toplama süreci hem yüzyüze hem de çevrimiçi olarak gerçekleştirilmiştir. Veri toplama araçları ‘’Genel Sosyotelist Olma Ölçeği’’, ‘’Pozitif ve Negatif Duygudurum Ölçeği’’, ‘’ Depresyon Anksiyete Stres Ölçeği’’ ve demografik bilgilerin ve katılımcıların kendileri ve yaşamlarından memnun olma düzeylerinin değerlendiren soruların yer aldığı ‘’Kişisel Bilgi Formu’’ dur. Bulgular: Depresif belirtilerin puan ortalaması 5.84, anksiyete belirtilerinin puan ortalaması 4.60, stres belirtilerinin puan ortalaması 8.01, negatif duygu durum puan ortalaması 23.01, pozitif duygu durum puan ortalaması 34.25 ve sosyotelizm puan ortalaması 44.98 olarak belirlenmiştir. Sosyotelizm ile depresyon, anksiyete ve stres belirtilerinin düzeyi ve negatif duygu durum puanları arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı ve pozitif yönlü bir ilişki saptanmıştır. Buna ek olarak yordayıcı modele göre sosyotelizm puanları, negatif duygu durum puanlarına ilişkin varyansın %4’ünü, anksiyete belirtilerinin puanlarına ilişkin varyansın %5’ini, depresif belirtilerin puanlarına ilişkin varyansın %7’sini ve stres belirtilerinin puanlarına ilişkin varyansın %12’sini açıklamaktadır. Sonuç: Sosyotelizmin, depresyon, anksiyete, stres ve negatif duygu durum ile ters yönde ilişkili olduğu ve tüm bu ruh sağlığı belirleyicilerinin açıklanmasında bir paya sahip olduğu belirlenmiştir.
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