Abstract The Messaging Motivations Questionnaire (MMQ) is a concise 8-item measure, which consists of two subscales capturing people’s typical motivations to text. The MMQ was developed through focus groups and item analysis based on a pilot study, followed by a larger validation study involving a sample of 982 young adults. Factor analyses supported a 2-factor structure, yielding highly reliable scale scores: Escape, characterized by the wish to escape or avoid internal or external stimuli when texting; and Express, characterized by the use of text messaging over richer forms of communication media to facilitate self-expression. Criterion validity of the MMQ scores was established using measures of problematic smartphone use, social anxiety, self-esteem, and the Big Five dimensions of personality. Women exhibited slightly higher scores on both subscales. There were no race/ethnicity-related MMQ score differences, and marginal age-related differences. The MMQ is a promising tool for counselors to better understand and discuss their young adult clients’ texting behaviors, as well as for future research focused on texting behavior and its consequences.

中文翻译：

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大逃亡还是自我表达之路？：文本消息动机量表的开发和验证

摘要 消息动机问卷 (MMQ) 是一个简洁的 8 项测量，它由两个子量表组成，用于捕捉人们对文本的典型动机。MMQ 是通过焦点小组和基于试点研究的项目分析开发的，随后是一项更大的验证研究，涉及 982 名年轻人的样本。因素分析支持 2 因素结构，产生高度可靠的量表分数： 逃避，特征是在发短信时希望逃避或避免内部或外部刺激；和 Express，其特点是在更丰富的通信媒体上使用文本消息来促进自我表达。MMQ 分数的标准效度是使用有问题的智能手机使用、社交焦虑、自尊和人格的五大维度来衡量的。女性在两个分量表上的得分都略高。没有与种族/民族相关的 MMQ 分数差异，也没有与年龄相关的边际差异。MMQ 是一个很有前途的工具，可以让辅导员更好地了解和讨论他们的年轻成人客户的短信行为，以及未来专注于短信行为及其后果的研究。