Validation of the Mandarin version of the Bergen Shopping Addiction Scale for assessing online and offline problematic shopping behaviors

Background: The present study examined and compared the psychometric properties of the Mandarin version of the Bergen Shopping Addiction Scale (BSAS) for assessing online and offline problematic shopping (PS) behaviors. In addition, the validity of the BSAS cutoff for differentiating between PS and non-PS behaviors was evaluated. Moreover, the correlation between PS severity determined using the BSAS and that determined on the basis of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR) criteria for internet gaming disorder (IGD), adapted for PS was investigated. Methods: A total of 992 individuals participated in an online survey. Factor structures of the online BSAS and offline BSAS were analyzed through confirmatory factor analysis. For both versions of the instrument, criterion-related validity was examined by investigating the correlation of the BSAS score with the DSM-5-TR criteria for IGD, adapted for PS. Concurrent validity was examined by investigating the correlations of the BSAS score with depression, anxiety, and impulsivity. The validity of the BSAS cutoff for PS behavior diagnosis was examined using an independent t-test. Results: Both the online BSAS and the offline BSAS had a one-factor structure and exhibited adequate internal consistency. Both online and offline BSAS scores were significantly correlated with online and offline shopping addiction symptoms adapted from the DSM-5-TR criteria for IGD, impulsivity, depression, and anxiety. The BSAS cutoff effectively differentiated between online and offline PS or non-PS behaviors. Conclusion: The present study indicates that the BSAS can efficiently assess online and offline PS and exhibits adequate psychometric properties.