Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between Problematic Internet Use (PIU), emotional states of stress, anxiety and depression, and the practice of physical activity among Tunisian students.Methods: Cross-sectional data were collected from 976 university students aged 20.76 ± 1.63 years (46.8% female). They filled out an online survey comprised of a socio-demographic questionnaire, the depression, anxiety and stress scale– 21 items (DASS-21), the international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ) and the compulsive internet use scale (CIUS). Students were divided, based on their economic levels, into three groups: low (n = 256, 26.23%), medium (n = 523, 53.59%) and high (n = 197, 20.18%).Results: Mediation analysis: Indirect effects of IPAQ and gender on DASS-21 were highlighted: β= -0.18 (p < 0.01) and β= -0.04,P < 0.01) respectively. In addition, a significant and negative effect of IPAQ on CIUS was demonstrated (β = -0.45,P < 0.01). In addition, the effect of CIUS on DASS-21 was significant (β = 0.39,P < 0.01). Also, the effect of gender on CIUS was significant (β=-0.10,P < 0.01) However, its effect on DASS-21 was not significant (β = 0.05,p = 0.078). The total effect of IPAQ on DASS21 was significant (β= -0.52,p < 0.01) but the effect of Gender on DASS-21 was not significant (β = 0.01,p = 0.817). Moderation analysis: the results showed a significant moderation effect of the interaction between IPAQ and Gender on CIUS (β = 0.07,p < 0.01). However, it was not significant between Gender and CIUS on DASS-21 (β = 0.09,p = 0.390) and between IPAQ and Gender on DASS21 (β = 0.01,p = 0.736) Also, the interaction between IPAQ and CIUS did not have a significant moderation effect on DASS-21 (β = 0.15,p = 0.115).Conclusions: Findings suggest that relationships between PIU and negative emotional state of depression, anxiety and stress are mediated via physical exercise. These results underscore the importance of the physical activity factor in the studies analyzing longitudinal effects of PIU on mental health outcomes.

Purpose: Nomophobia refers to a psychological state in which individuals experience anxiety or fear at the thought of being disconnected from their mobile phone. The Nomophobia Questionnaire was developed to assess dimensions of nomophobia among native English-speaking populations. The purpose of this study was to adapt and validate the Nomophobia Questionnaire in the Tunisian context based on Western Arabic dialects. Methods: This cross-sectional design using a non-probability sampling method was conducted from September 05 to October 06, 2022. A total of 644 participants, with an average age of 21.04 ± 1.59 years, completed a sociodemographic questionnaire and an Arabic version of the Nomophobia Questionnaire. Participants were divided into two groups to perform exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. The first group consisted of 200 students (56% female and 44% male with an average age of 21.10 ± 1.64), with 33% (n = 66) freshmen, 41.5% second-year students (n = 83) and 25.5% (n = 51) of third-year students. The second group was collected one month later in the same establishment and was composed of 444 students (52% men and 48% female with an average age of 21.01 ± 1.57). Results: The results of the exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis showed that the 20 items and the second order four-factor structure should be retained. Confirmatory factor analysis of the Arabic version of the NMP-Q gave the following statistics: χ 2/df= 1.47; Fit Index = 0.997; Adjusted goodness-of-fit index = 0.996; Tucker-Lewis index = 1.003; Comparative Fit Index = 1; Root mean square error of approximation = 0.000 (90% CI 0– 0) and standardized mean residual = 0.030, indicating good model fit. McDonald’s ω internal consistency indexes for the four factors, namely giving up convenience, not being able to access information, not being able to communicate, and losing connectedness were 0.821, 0.841, 0.851, and 0.897, respectively. These values demonstrated good scale consistency. Conclusion: The Arabic Version of the Nomophobia questionnaire has been found to be a reliable and valid psychometric tool, and can be effectively used to measure nomophobia in countries where western Arabic dialects are spoken.

Purpose: Positive attitudes toward intellectual disability contribute to the effective inclusion of people with intellectual disability (PWID) in society, thereby enhancing their quality of life. The literature on tools for measuring attitudes towards PWID in Arabic is limited. The aim of this study was to adapt and validate the Attitudes towards Intellectual Disability Questionnaire-Short Form (ATTID-S) using an Arab population to assess its factor structure and reliability. Materials and Methods: A total of 812 Arabic native speakers who lived in Tunisia were recruited. The exploratory sample consisted of 223 subjects divided into male (n = 121, 54.26%) and female (n = 102, 45.74%) with an age range of between 18 and 64 (mean = 32.7 ± 9.2 years). The confirmatory sample comprised 589 participants, male (n = 357, 60.61%) and female (n = 232, 39.38%), with a mean age of 31.61 (SD = 12.43). A cross-cultural translation of ATTID-S was carried. The Arab attitudes towards intellectual disability scale (A-ATTID-S) was tested using exploratory factor analysis, followed by confirmatory factor analysis. Results: Exploratory factor analysis revealed a five-factor solution explaining up to 68.74 of the total variation, with items having lambda factor loadings ranging from 0.53 to 0.9. Subsequently, confirmatory factor analysis, which used a wide range of goodness-of-fit indices that met the recommended standards, confirmed the measure’s robustness. The internal consistency reliability of each of the subscales was investigated using reliability analysis. Cronbach’s alpha scores for the subscales and total score were satisfactory. Moreover, differences in the A-ATTID-S scores between male and female with age as covariate were demonstrated. Conclusion: The A-ATTID-S is a good psychometric scale that can be used to assess the attitude of a general population towards intellectual disability in the Arabic-speaking world.

Corrigendum for the article Reliability and Validity of the Arabic Version of Attitudes Towards Intellectual Disability Questionnaire-Short Form (A-ATTID-S)

[Purpose] Despite Facebook’s widespread use in Arab countries, validated Arabic tools to assess the intensity of its use and related psychological and behavioral outcomes are lacking. This study aims to validate the Arabic version of the Multidimensional Facebook Intensity Scale (A-MFIS) and examine its associations with life satisfaction, happiness, and physical activity in a large Tunisian adult sample.[Methods] A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with 1,068 adults. The survey included sociodemographic questions, the A-MFIS, the Arabic Satisfaction with Life Scale (ASWLS), the Arabic Scale of Happiness (ASH), and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). The sample was randomly split into an exploratory group and a confirmatory group. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to assess the factorial structure, internal consistency, and construct validity of the A-MFIS.[Results] Analyses supported a second-order model with four factors and 13 items, showing acceptable model fit. The A-MFIS demonstrated strong internal consistency and construct validity. Significant negative correlations were found between Facebook intensity and life satisfaction, happiness, and physical activity levels.[Conclusion] The A-MFIS is a reliable and valid tool for assessing Facebook use intensity in Arabic-speaking contexts. It can facilitate future research, clinical assessments, and interventions aimed at improving digital well-being. Future studies should explore its applicability in other Arab cultures and longitudinal settings. This validated instrument provides researchers and practitioners in Arabic-speaking populations with a culturally appropriate tool to assess Facebook usage intensity, enabling future research and interventions on digital well-being.