Development and psychometric validation of the Turkish gambling disorder screening test: a measure that evaluates gambling disorder regarding the American Psychiatric Association framework

Abstract

Objectives: First study aims to develop the Gambling Disorder Screening Test (GDST), a standardized measure that assesses symptoms and prevalence of gambling disorder (GD) regarding the American Psychiatric Association (APA) diagnostic framework. The aim of the second study is to validate the GDST psychometrically. Method: In the first study participants were assessed with GDST. Sample comprised of 400 Turkish university students and video game players (54.0% male, mean age 24.30 years, SD=6.83) that was enrolled online. In the second study the sample (n=326; 60.1% male, mean age 23.54 years, SD=4.44) was similar with the first study. Participants were assessed with GDST, the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS) and the Gambling Motives Questionnaire (GMQ). Results: In the first study, according to the exploratory factor analysis a single component accounted for 64.02% of total variance. The scale was internally consistent with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.93, thus considered as reliable. In the second study, confirmatory factor analysis showed that GDST's factor structure (i.e., the unidimensional structure) was satisfactory. Positive correlations between GDST and the number of self-reported gambling type, SOGS and GMQ scores demonstrated adequate convergent and criterion-related validity. Also the GDST had a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.92 in this sample. Conclusion: These findings from Study 1 and Study 2 suggest that the Turkish GDST is a valid and reliable measure to assess the severity of GD related issues according to APA’s framework among young adults and for the purposes of early detection of GD in clinical settings and research.