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Volume 15
Issue 12
10.3390/ejihpe15120262
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Development and Psychometric Validation of the Brain Rot Scale: Measuring Digital Content Overconsumption Among Generation Alpha and Generation Z

by
Mamdouh Mahmoud Mostafa
1,
Ashraf Ragab Ibrahim
2,
Mohamed Ali Nemt-allah
2,*,
Safaa Zaki Arafa
3,
Amina Ahmed Hassan
3 and
Mamdouh Mosaad Helali
4,*
1
Mental Health Department, Faculty of Education, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11765, Egypt
2
Educational Psychology and Statistics Department, Faculty of Education, Al-Azhar University, Dakahlia 35822, Egypt
3
College of Science, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia
4
The National Research Center for Giftedness and Creativity, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Eur. J. Investig. Health Psychol. Educ. 2025, 15(12), 262; https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe15120262
Submission received: 22 October 2025 / Revised: 13 December 2025 / Accepted: 16 December 2025 / Published: 18 December 2025
Versions Notes

Abstract

Brain rot refers to the cognitive decline and mental exhaustion resulting from excessive consumption of low-quality, short-form digital content, particularly affecting Generation Alpha and Generation Z. This study developed and validated the Brain Rot Scale (BRS) to assess digital content overconsumption among digital natives aged 8–24 years. A two-phase design employed separate Egyptian samples for exploratory factor analysis (EFA; n = 403) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA; n = 897). The initial 21-item Arabic scale underwent principal axis factoring with promax rotation, guided by parallel analysis. Following iterative item deletion, a 14-item scale (BRS-14) emerged with three factors: Attention Dysregulation (6 items), Digital Compulsivity (5 items), and Cognitive Dependency (3 items), accounting for 35.114% of common variance. Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated excellent fit (CFI = 0.988; TLI = 0.985; RMSEA = 0.031 [0.023, 0.039]; SRMR = 0.040), with standardized loadings ranging from 0.667 to 0.758 (p < 0.001). The scale showed excellent reliability (ω = 0.900, α = 0.899), with subscale reliabilities from 0.759 to 0.857. Convergent validity was established (CR > 0.70, AVE > 0.50). Factor intercorrelations (0.636–0.671) supported a hierarchical model where a general Brain Rot factor explained 62.9–69.9% of first-order variance. The BRS-14 provides a psychometrically sound instrument for assessing problematic digital consumption patterns among contemporary youth populations.
Keywords: brain rot; digital addiction; Generation Alpha; Generation Z; measuring brain rot; digital addiction; Generation Alpha; Generation Z; measuring

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MDPI and ACS Style

Mostafa, M.M.; Ibrahim, A.R.; Nemt-allah, M.A.; Arafa, S.Z.; Hassan, A.A.; Helali, M.M. Development and Psychometric Validation of the Brain Rot Scale: Measuring Digital Content Overconsumption Among Generation Alpha and Generation Z. Eur. J. Investig. Health Psychol. Educ. 2025, 15, 262. https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe15120262

AMA Style

Mostafa MM, Ibrahim AR, Nemt-allah MA, Arafa SZ, Hassan AA, Helali MM. Development and Psychometric Validation of the Brain Rot Scale: Measuring Digital Content Overconsumption Among Generation Alpha and Generation Z. European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education. 2025; 15(12):262. https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe15120262

Chicago/Turabian Style

Mostafa, Mamdouh Mahmoud, Ashraf Ragab Ibrahim, Mohamed Ali Nemt-allah, Safaa Zaki Arafa, Amina Ahmed Hassan, and Mamdouh Mosaad Helali. 2025. "Development and Psychometric Validation of the Brain Rot Scale: Measuring Digital Content Overconsumption Among Generation Alpha and Generation Z" European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education 15, no. 12: 262. https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe15120262

APA Style

Mostafa, M. M., Ibrahim, A. R., Nemt-allah, M. A., Arafa, S. Z., Hassan, A. A., & Helali, M. M. (2025). Development and Psychometric Validation of the Brain Rot Scale: Measuring Digital Content Overconsumption Among Generation Alpha and Generation Z. European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education, 15(12), 262. https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe15120262

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