Coping With Social Media Bashing Scale (CoSMB): Development and Psychometric Testing

The increasing prevalence of social media usage has led to a rise in online bashing, adversely affecting the mental health and well-being of students. Consequently, there is a pressing need for a robust tool to determine the coping strategies employed by individuals experiencing online bashing. This study aimed to develop and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Coping with Social Media Bashing Scale (CoSMB). An exploratory sequential research design was employed and a total of 1,014 college students across three universities in the Philippines were recruited to participate in the study. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted to identify the underlying structure of the CoSMB, followed by a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to validate the factor model. Cronbach's alpha and inter-item/inter-total correlations were utilized to assess the scale's reliability, while content and criterion validity tests were performed to examine the scale's validity. EFA and CFA yielded a 10-item scale consisting of two factors: 'Assertive Coping' and 'Passive Coping'. The scale demonstrated excellent validity and high internal consistency, with a Cronbach's alpha of .80. Mental health professionals can leverage the CoSMB to design interventions for students distressed by online bashing, enabling them to create personalized treatment plans and support strategies.