DSM-5 Internet Gaming Disorder in the U.S. Among Racial/Ethnic Minority Youth: Investigating Psychometric Properties of the Internet Gaming Disorder Test and Psychosocial Correlates of Internet Gaming Disorder

Background: Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) has become increasingly prevalent in youths worldwide and associated with physical and psychosocial impairments. DSM-5 proposed nine criteria for the potential diagnosis of IGD and noted that further empirical research on the psychometric properties of measurement instruments for IGD are warranted. In response to the DSM-5 directive, this study evaluated the psychometric properties of Internet Gaming Disorder Test (IGD-20) in a sample of African American and Latino youth. The development of the 20-item IGD-20 was guided by the nine DSM-5 IGD criteria. However, the IGD-20 had previously only been examined among White youth. In addition, very few studies have examined IGD among racial/ethnic minority youth who are not White or Asian. Thus, this study explored the characteristics of gaming behaviors and psychosocial factors of IGD in a sample primarily consisting of African American and Latino youths.

Methods: Cross-sectional data was collected from 247 youth (M age = 16.0, SD = 1.2) in a face-to-face setting using Qualtrics survey software to record the responses. Of the 247 youth, 63.6% were girls, 35.6% were boys. Most of the sample (69.2%) were African American, and 27.1% were Latino/a. Youths’ IGD, problematic Internet use, substance abuse, and mental distress symptoms were assessed using standardized measures. Youth reported sociodemographic information. Confirmatory factory analysis (CFA) was used to examine the validity of the IGD-20 based on the factor structure suggested by empirical evidence. Bivariate analyses were used to examine the differences in characteristics of gaming behaviors and psychosocial correlates between youths with IGD and non-IGD. 

Results: The CFA indicated a reasonable fit of a 6-factor structure of the IGD-20 (i.e., salience, tolerance, withdrawal, mood alteration, negative consequences, lack of control over gaming behaviors) in this sample [χ² (139) = 265.59, p < .001, RMSEA = .067, CFI = .94]. Approximately 2.4% of the sample met the suggested cut-off score for IGD (IGD-20 > 71) Bivariate test revealed that significantly more youths with IGD reported playing video games on the Internet than their non-IGD peers (p < .001). Moreover, youths with IGD evidenced significantly higher levels of problematic Internet use behaviors (p < .001), substance abuse problems (p < .001), and sleep problems (p < .05) compared to those who did not have IGD. IGD was significantly positively correlated with problem Internet use (r = .28, p < .001). No significant difference was observed in IGD between boys and girls (p > .05).

Conclusion and Implications: The CFA demonstrated that the IGD-20 may be used as a valid measure for assessing IGD among racial/ethnic minority youth, specifically among African American and Latino/a youth. Despite the relative low prevalence rate of IGD in this sample, findings suggest that youths with IGD have significantly more severe substance abuse, sleep problems, and problematic Internet use behaviors compared to their non-IGD counterparts. Accordingly, clinicians and service providers may need to screen and assess for IGD among youths at risk for other behavioral problems. Implications to research and clinical practice will be discussed.