A Study of the Psychometric Properties of the Persian Version of the Online Gambling Symptom Assessment Scale in the Iranian Population.

Abstract

Background: The primary objective of the current paper was to assess the psychometric attributes of the Persian version of the Online Gambling Symptom Assessment Scale (P-OGSAS) within the Iranian population.

Methods: The current study was conducted through a convenient sampling method between September and November 2021, involving 187 participants who had experienced online gambling at least once a month for the last 3 months. OGSAS was translated from English into Persian using the forward-backward translation method. Cronbach's alpha coefficient and principal component analysis (PCA) were employed to evaluate the reliability and validity of the scale, respectively. Participants were administered a battery of assessments, including P-OGSAS, Persian Gambling Disorder Screening Questionnaire (GDSQ-P), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 Items (PHQ-9), and Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GADQ-7), to assess validity and reliability.

Findings: The results showed that the 3-factor model of this scale provides the highest level of predictability. The 3-factor model accounts for 54.8% of the square load. With a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.807, P-OGSAS demonstrated satisfactory reliability. Finally, OGSAS has a significant correlation with other scales, and as a result, this scale has suitable convergent validity.

Conclusion: P-OGSAS can adequately assess the symptoms and severity of online gambling. Therefore, clinicians could use this scale to evaluate the problems related to online gambling in the Iranian population.