Vol.:(0123456789) International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-025-01461-x ORIGINAL ARTICLE Meta‑analysis of Reliability and Validity of the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS) Rossella Bottaro 1  · Mark D. Griffiths 2  · Palmira Faraci 1 Accepted: 22 February 2025 © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2025 Abstract The present meta-analysis reviewed and summarized the psychometric properties of the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS), the most widely used tool for assessing social media addiction (SMA) in research and clinical practice. Following the PRISMA 2020 Statement guidelines, seven databases (PubMed, PsycArticles, PsycInfo, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection, Medline, Wiley Online Library, and Web of Science) were searched for studies reporting the dimensionality, item characteristics, reliability, and validity of the BSMAS. A total of 28 studies (N = 62,406) were reviewed. The unidimen- sionality of the BSMAS was unanimously confirmed with an optimal pooled Cronbach’s alpha coefficient (0.83). Likewise, the pooled association between the BSMAS and anxiety, depression, internet gaming disorder, and stress supported its construct validity. There was preliminary and encouraging evidence for other related measures and criteria, and test– retest reliability, although these were qualitatively evaluated due to the limited number of studies. Pending common nosographic categorization, the meta-analytic findings support the appropriateness and validity of conclusions regarding SMA reached using the BSMAS. Further evidence-based, randomized studies targeting various populations and subgroups are warranted. Keywords Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale · Meta-analysis · Psychometrics · Reliability · Validity Although not yet included in current official diagnostic manuals, social media addiction (SMA) is increasingly recognized as a mental health disorder. The growing interest by scholars is related to the proliferation of social networking sites (SNSs). There were 5.04 billion social profiles active in 2024, representing more than 62% of the world’s popula- tion, who spend 2.23 hours a day using social media, mainly to stay in touch with friends and family (We Are Social & Meltwater, 2024). * Rossella Bottaro rossella.bottaro@unikorestudent.it; rossella.bottaro1@gmail.com 1 Psychometrics Laboratory, Department of Human and Social Sciences, University Kore of Enna, Cittadella Universitaria, 94100 Enna, Italy 2 International Gaming Research Unit, Psychology Department, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK