Assessing Positive Digital Experiences: A Spanish Validation of the Digital Flourishing Scale for Adolescents

Authors

• Alfredo Zarco-Alpuente, University of Valencia
• Victor Ciudad Fernández, University of Valencia
• Jasmina Rosič, KU Leuven
• Sophie Janicke-Bowles, Chapman UniversityFollow
• Tamara Escrivà-Martínez, University of Valencia
• Paula Samper-García, University of Valencia

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2026

Abstract

Background: Adolescents are immersed in digital communication, which can benefit or harm their well-being. Digital flourishing captures positive perceptions of this communication-connectedness, authentic self-presentation, positive social comparison, civil participation, and self-control-and how it contributes to well-being. In Spain there is still no validated instrument for adolescents. Method: We adapted and validated the Digital Flourishing Scale for Adolescents (DFSA) for Spanish adolescents. Study 1 involved a pilot survey (n = 13) and cognitive interviews (n = 10) to improve clarity and cultural relevance. Study 2 used a cross-sectional survey (n = 1,786) to examine the DFSA’s latent structure, measurement invariance by gender and age, internal reliability of scores, and validity evidence based on relationships to other variables. Study 3 assessed test-retest reliability of scores and longitudinal measurement invariance over six weeks (n = 289). Results: Study 1 improved item clarity and cultural relevance through linguistic adjustments. Study 2 confirmed a five-factor model, showing strict age invariance and metric gender invariance. All subscales correlated with well-being indicators. Study 3 showed poor to moderate temporal stability of scores but supported scalar longitudinal invariance. Conclusions: The Spanish DFSA is a promising tool for assessing adolescents’ digital flourishing in the Spanish context.

Comments

This article was originally published in Psicothema, volume 38, issue 1, in 2026. https://doi.org/10.70478/psicothema.2026.38.03

Recommended Citation

Zarco-Alpuente, A., Ciudad Fernández, V., Rosič, J., Janicke-Bowles, S., Escrivá-Martínez, T., & Samper-García, P. (2026). Assessing positive digital experiences: A Spanish validation of the Digital Flourishing Scale for Adolescents. Psicothema, 38(1), 23-35. https://doi.org/10.70478/psicothema.2026.38.03

Copyright

Psicothema

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.