Psychometric evaluation of the Russian version of the Gaming Disorder Scale for Adolescents

Nabi Nazari; Muhammad Salman Shabbir; Andrei Vladimirovich Sevbitov; Masoud Sadeghi; Mark D Griffiths

doi:10.1007/s12144-021-02575-w

Psychometric evaluation of the Russian version of the Gaming Disorder Scale for Adolescents

Curr Psychol. 2022 Jan 18:1-15. doi: 10.1007/s12144-021-02575-w. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Nabi Nazari¹, Muhammad Salman Shabbir², Andrei Vladimirovich Sevbitov³, Masoud Sadeghi¹, Mark D Griffiths⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology, Faculty of Human Sciences, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran.
² Department of Management, College of Commerce and Business Administration, Postal Code: 211, Dhofar University, Salalah, Oman.
³ Department of Propaedeutics of Dental Diseases, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia.
⁴ International Gaming Research Unit, Psychology Department, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK.

Abstract

Problematic gaming has become an emerging global health issue. Formal recognition of gaming disorder in the ICD-11 is a new opportunity for the discipline to conduct further investigation concerning the psychological consequences of problematic gaming. The present study investigated the psychometric properties and construct structure of the recently developed Gaming Disorder for Scale for Adolescents (GADIS-A), a multi-dimensional instrument that screens for gaming disorder symptoms, among Russian adolescent gamers. The sample comprised 933 adolescent gamers (547 boys and 386 girls) recruited via a web-based platform, using a multistage sampling method. Analysis showed the GADIS-A had very good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha coefficient = .891; Composite reliability = .89) and adequate test-retest reliability after two weeks (intraclass coefficient =0.68 with 95% CI [0.61, 0.77]. Exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) showed the data fitted well. Measurement invariance testing indicated the GADIS-A was invariant by gender and gaming medium (online vs. offline). As for criterion-related validity, high scores on the GADIS-A positively correlated with scales assessing depression, anxiety, impulsivity, and difficulties in emotion regulation, and negatively correlated with social connectedness and life satisfaction. Using latent profile analysis, four groups of gamers were identified, and problematic gaming was associated with greater mental health problems. The findings indicated that psychological comorbidity (e.g., depression and anxiety) was more prevalent among gamers with higher risk of GD. The findings indicate that GADIS-A is a reliable and valid instrument to assess the symptoms and severity of gaming disorder among Russian adolescents.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12144-021-02575-w.

Keywords: Exploratory structural equation modeling; Gaming; Gaming disorder; IGD; Latent profile analysis; Measurement invariance; Online behavior.