Validation of the Chinese Version of the Smartphone Self-Extension Scale: Empirical Evidence for Tripartite Conceptualization of Smartphone Self-Extension

Smartphones can be perceived as a part of users' human selves and extend their identity in various ways. This study aimed to validate the Chinese version of the Smartphone Self-Extension scale in a sample of 1,022 university students. The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was employed to examine the validity of the scale. The CFA results confirmed a three-factor, instead of a two-factor, structure of the scale, lending empirical evidence to the tripartite conceptualization of smartphone self-extension. Measurement invariance of the scale was established. Participants showing more smartphone addiction and higher frequency of smartphone use experienced more smartphone self-extension. Gender and smartphone addiction levels were associated with varying degrees of anthropomorphic and ontological self-extension. This is the first study to validate the Chinese version of the Smartphone Self-Extension scale among university students. The scale has been demonstrated to be a reliable and valid measure for smartphone self-extension to be used in educational settings.