Evaluation of psychometric characteristics of Czech adaptation of the Game Addiction Scale for adolescents

Objectives. The study introduces Czech adaptation of the Game Addiction Scale. Psychometric properties of the method were evaluated - factor structure, internal consistency and construct validity. Subjects and Settings. The research sample consisted of 423 adolescents (48% females). The questionnaire was administered in paper&pencil form in school settings in three major Czech cities - Prague, Brno, Ostrava. Data collection was performed in autumn 2015 and spring 2016. Data analysis. Internal consistency was estimated using Cronbach's a. Confirmatory factor analysis and structural model capturing construct validity were performed using Lavaan package in the R statistical environment. Results. Psychometric properties of the Czech adaptation of the method are comparable with original findings and can be described as satisfactory. Based on the presented results the Czech version of the Game Addiction Scale for research and diagnostic use in adolescents can be recommended. Limitations. Relatively smaller proportion of respondents addicted to video game playing could have a negative impact on the level of construct validity in terms of impaired parameter estimates of relationships between video game addiction and other variables.