Researchers Develop Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale

Posted on May 7, 2012

University of Bergen Doctor of Psychology Cecilie Schou Andreassen (pictured on the right) heads a research project about Facebook addiction. She says Facebook addiction occurs more regularly in younger than older users. It also occurs more in people who anxious and socially insecure. Women are also more at risk for Facebook addiction.

Dr. Andreassen and her colleagues have developed The Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale. The scale is based on the following six criteria, which are scored on the following scale: (1) Very rarely, (2) Rarely, (3) Sometimes, (4) Often, and (5) Very often:

• You spend a lot of time thinking about Facebook or plan use of Facebook.
• You feel an urge to use Facebook more and more.
• You use Facebook in order to forget about personal problems.
• You have tried to cut down on the use of Facebook without success.
• You become restless or troubled if you are prohibited from using Facebook.
• You use Facebook so much that it has had a negative impact on your job/studies.

Andreassen's study shows that scoring "often" or "always" on at least four of the seven items may suggest that you are addicted to Facebook.