Problematic ChatGPT Use Scale: AI-Human Collaboration or Unraveling the Dark Side of ChatGPT

Maral S., Naycı N., Bilmez H., Erdemir E. İ., SATICI S. A.

International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 2025 (SCI-Expanded) identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Basım Tarihi: 2025
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1007/s11469-025-01509-y
  • Dergi Adı: International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, PAIS International, Psycinfo, Social services abstracts, Sociological abstracts
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Artificial intelligence addiction, Problematic ChatGPT use, Psychological distress, Psychometric properties, Self-control, Well being
  • Yıldız Teknik Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Artificial intelligence (AI)-driven tools like ChatGPT have rapidly integrated into daily life, raising concerns about problematic use and psychological impacts. However, validated tools to assess maladaptive interaction patterns are limited. This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Problematic ChatGPT Use Scale (PCGUS) within a Turkish sample. Study I included 391 participants (61.4% female, mean age = 30.89), while study II involved 473 participants (74.4% male, mean age = 28.25). In study I, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) confirmed the unidimensional structure of the 9-item scale, and measurement invariance (MI) was established at configural, metric, and scalar levels. The scale demonstrated acceptable reliability, and Item Response Theory (IRT) analysis showed strong item discrimination. Problematic ChatGPT use (PCGU) correlated positively with AI addiction, internet gaming disorder, and internet addiction, and negatively with conscientiousness. Study II revealed that psychological distress and self-control mediated the relationship between PCGU and well-being, highlighting the importance of these factors in predicting healthy AI engagement.