title: GamTest: Psychometric Evaluation and the Role of Emotions in an Online Self-Test for Gambling Behavior.
abstract: Recent increases in the number of online gambling sites have made gambling more available, which may contribute to an increase in gambling problems. At the same time, online gambling provides opportunities to introduce measures intended to prevent problem gambling. GamTest is an online test of gambling behavior that provides information that can be used to give players individualized feedback and recommendations for action. The aim of this study is to explore the dimensionality of GamTest and validate it against the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) and the gambler's own perceived problems. A recent psychometric approach, exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) is used. Well-defined constructs are identified in a two-step procedure fitting a traditional exploratory factor analysis model as well as a so-called bifactor model. Using data collected at four Nordic gambling sites in the autumn of 2009 (n = 10,402), the GamTest ESEM analyses indicate high correspondence with the players' own understanding of their problems and with the PGSI, a validated measure of problem gambling. We conclude that GamTest captures five dimensions of problematic gambling (i.e., overconsumption of money and time, and monetary, social and emotional negative consequences) with high reliability, and that the bifactor approach, composed of a general factor and specific residual factors, reproduces all these factors except one, the negative consequences emotional factor, which contributes to the dominant part of the general factor. The results underscore the importance of tailoring feedback and support to online gamblers with a particular focus on how to handle emotions in relation to their gambling behavior.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden. jakob.jonsson@psychology.su.se.
authors.forename: Jakob
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3908-5841
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jonsson
authors.affiliation: Department of Education and Special Education, University of Gothenburg, Östra Varvsgatan 16B, 211 75, Malmö, Sweden.|Professor Emerita, Östra Varvsgatan 16B, 211 75, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Munck
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University Massachusetts Amherst, PO Box 1390, Northampton, MA, 01061, United States.|Gemini Research, Ltd., PO Box 1390, Northampton, MA, 01061, United States.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Volberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Carlbring
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D005715:Gambling / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Behavior self-diagnostic test; Exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM); GamTest; Gambling; Online gambling; Validation