Discussing evidence on the components model of addiction. A commentary on Fournier et al. (2023)

Abstract

Fournier and colleagues have recently examined whether the components model of addiction includes peripheral features of addiction not indicative of a disorder. The authors conducted factor analyses and network analyses of responses (N = 4,256) to the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale. Their results showed that a bidimensional solution best fitted the data and that two items examining salience and tolerance loaded on a factor not associated with symptoms of psychopathology signifying salience and tolerance as peripherical features of addiction to social media.A reanalysis of the data (focused on the internal structure of the scale) was believed necessary considering that previous studies consistently demonstrated the one-factor solution of the scale and that four independent samples were analysed as a single sample potentially limiting the results of the original study.Findings of the reanalyses of Fournier and colleagues’ data provided additional support for a one-factor solution of the scale. Potential explanations of the findings and suggestions for future research were elaborated.