Heavy Study Investment in Pre-adolescence and Adolescence: Psychometric Properties of the Studyholism Inventory (SI-10)

Abstract

The Studyholism Inventory (SI-10) allows evaluating two types of Heavy Study Investment (Studyholism – or obsession toward study – and Study Engagement), and four kinds of student (engaged studyholics, disengaged studyholics, engaged students, detached students). We analyzed its psychometric properties in Italian pre-adolescents (n = 451) and adolescents (n = 446) and proposed its cut-off scores. Moreover, we investigated some demographic and study-related differences in studyholism and study engagement. The results supported the use of the SI-10 in pre-adolescents and adolescents. The fit indices are similar in the two samples (for adolescents, GFI = .98, RMSEA = .059). Moreover, we found a high prevalence of studyholism, especially in pre-adolescence (18.6%), and a decrease in study engagement in both genders from pre-adolescence to adolescence. In conclusion, the SI-10 might be used from pre-adolescence for research, preventive, and clinical purposes. Also, demographic-related results supported the definition of studyholism as an obsessive-compulsive related disorder.

Keywords

• heavy work investment
• obsession
• ocd
• study addiction
• study engagement
• workaholism