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ETD Abstract Container

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Extension and Validation of an Adult Gaming Addiction Scale

MacGregor, Scott A
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1418231740

Abstract Details

2014, Psy. D., Antioch University, Antioch New England: Clinical Psychology.
Video game addiction among adults is a serious mental health issue. Unfortunately, research on video game addiction is in its infancy and impeded by the lack of a valid and reliable measure for use with adults. Lemmens, Valkenburg, and Peter (2009) developed an adolescent video game addiction measure, the Gaming Addiction Scale (GAS); however, it has not been validated for use with an adult population. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the appropriateness of the GAS for use with adults and evaluate whether the measure is a valid and reliable measure of adult video game addiction. The measure was administered to a population of 2,820 massively multiplayer online adult gamers through popular gaming websites. Factor analysis was conducted to evaluate whether the items sorted into the same seven underlying criteria (i.e., salience, tolerance, mood modification, relapse, withdrawal, conflict, and problems) of video game addiction as the original study. This analysis revealed a four-factor structure that differed from the adolescent version of the measure but still encompassed the seven criteria of gaming addiction in a coherent manner. The GAS exhibited strong reliability and concurrent validity with loneliness, life satisfaction, and time spent gaming. The GAS did not exhibit discriminant validity with a measure of social anxiety. A hypothesized moderating effect of time spent gaming on the relationship between video game addiction and playing with real-life friends was not supported. The GAS is reliable and compatible with current understandings and diagnostic criteria; it has potential as a useful measure of video game addiction for adults. Future research should focus on further validation of the measure for adults, and clarifying the relationship between social anxiety and gaming addiction.
James Fauth, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
George Tremblay, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Victor Pantesco, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
104 p.
Clinical Psychology
video games; gaming addiction; massively multiplayer online game; MMOG

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • MacGregor, S. A. (2014). Extension and Validation of an Adult Gaming Addiction Scale [Doctoral dissertation, Antioch University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1418231740

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • MacGregor, Scott. Extension and Validation of an Adult Gaming Addiction Scale. 2014. Antioch University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1418231740.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • MacGregor, Scott. "Extension and Validation of an Adult Gaming Addiction Scale." Doctoral dissertation, Antioch University, 2014. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1418231740

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

antioch1418231740
3,460
© 2014, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Antioch University and OhioLINK.