Social Media Bashing Assessment Scale (SM-BASH): Development and Psychometric Testing

The pervasive use of social media exposes individuals to negative experiences, including social media bashing, which profoundly impacts mental health, yet there is a conspicuous lack of a standardized scale to assess these experiences. This study assessed the psychometric properties of the Social Media Bashing Assessment Scale (SM-BASH). A total of 978 college students from the Philippines participated in the study. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted to determine the underlying structure of the SM-BASH, followed by a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to validate the model. The scale's reliability was examined using Cronbach's alpha and inter-item/inter-total correlation, while its validity was examined through content and criterion validity tests. The EFA and CFA revealed a two-factor structure model, which explained 70.57% of the total variance, comprising 'Explicit Social Media Bashing' and 'Implicit Social Media Bashing'. The scale demonstrated excellent criterion validity and high internal consistency, with a Cronbach's alpha of .92. The 10-item SM-BASH is a valid and reliable tool for quantifying negative encounters on social media platforms, particularly among student populations. Its strong psychometric properties make it appropriate for use in research and potentially in clinical settings to assess and address the impacts of social media bashing on individuals' well-being.