Psychometric properties and measurement invariance of the 7-item game addiction scale (GAS) among Chinese college students

Abstract

Background The 7-item Gaming Addiction Scale (GAS) has been used as a screening tool for addictive game use worldwide, and this study aimed to examine its psychometric properties and measurement invariance among college students in China. Methods Full-time students from multiple colleges in China were recruited. A total of 1040 completed questionnaires were used in the final analysis. Reliability of the GAS was assessed by internal consistency and split-half reliability. Validity of the GAS was assessed by structural validity, convergent validity, discriminant validity, and concurrent validity. A series of Multigroup Confirmatory Factor Analysis (MG-CFA) were conducted to test and establish measurement invariance across gender, class standing, family income and parental educational level. Results Exploratory factor analysis revealed a unidimensional structure of the GAS. The GAS exhibited excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.951, theta coefficient = 0.953, omega coefficient = 0.959) and structural validity (χ2 /df = 0.877 (p < 0.05), CFI = 0.999, TIL = 0.996, RMSEA =0.000). Concurrent validity of the GAS was confirmed by its correlation with problematic internet use, sleep quality, nine dimensions of psychiatric symptoms, and substance use. The GAS also demonstrated measurement invariance across father’s educational level (Δχ2 (df) = 19.128 (12), ΔCFI = − 0.009, ΔRMSEA = 0.010 for weak factorial model; Δχ2 (df) = 50.109 (42), ΔCFI = − 0.010, ΔRMSEA = 0.007 for strict factorial model.) and mother’s educational level (Δχ2 (df) = 6.679 (12), ΔCFI = 0.007, ΔRMSEA = − 0.010 for weak factorial model; Δχ2 (df) =49.131 (42), ΔCFI = − 0.009, ΔRMSEA = − 0.004 for strict factorial model), as well as partial measurement invariance across gender (except for item 2), class standing (except for item 7) and family income (except for item 5). Conclusions The Chinese version of the 7-item GAS can be an adequate assessment tool to assess internet gaming disorder among the college student population in China.

Problematic Gaming and Sleep: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Prevalence rates of problematic gaming varied widely in the samples ranging from 1.2 to 73.9% (weighted mean = 16.0%), while three studies had comparison groups of similar sample size ( 41 , 71 , 76 ). The majority of samples ( n = 18) were recruited from primary- / high schools, while eight samples were recruited from college/universities ( 41 , 53 – 55 , 66 , 75 , 76 , 80 ), three were recruited from gaming communities ( 24 , 52 , 74 ), one was recruited from two pediatric lipid and obesity treatment clinics ( 77 ), one was recruited through social media ( 61 ), one was recruited in “non-working contexts” [e.g., pubs, sports associations, recreational places; ( 59 )], and two samples were recruited using random population sampling ( 56 , 79 ).…”

Relational Victimization and Video Game Addiction among Female College Students during COVID-19 Pandemic: The Roles of Social Anxiety and Parasocial Relationship

“…Video game addiction was assessed with a widely used 7-item Game Addiction Scale (GAS) [ 67 , 68 ]. Several studies find that the Chinese version of this scale is a suitable assessment tool with adequate reliability and validity to assess a video gaming disorder among Chinese college students [ 67 ]. Items (e.g., “have you ever wanted to play video games all day?”) were rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = never, 5 = usually).…”

Does Internet use connect smallholder farmers to a healthy diet? Evidence from rural China

“…Thirdly, Internet use can facilitate asset factor allocation and increase property income (52,53). Internet use has increased the scale of financial assets of farm households, helping to improve the asset allocation structure and promoting higher property income for farm households (53)(54)(55). In short, Internet use can increase the level of operational income, wage income and property income of farming households, thus increasing total household income.…”