Reliability and validity of Chinese Version of Gambling Urge Scale

ObjectiveTo evaluate the reliability and validity of the Chinese Version of the Gambling Urge Scale (GUS-C)in Chinese population.MethodsThe questionnaire was administered to 730 Chinese people(>18 years old).The internal consistent reliability,split-half reliability,test-retest reliability,construct validity,and criterion-related validity of the scale were examined.Results Item analyses showed that comparative ratio(CR)values ranged from 8.797 to 29.525(P<0.01)and the correlations between the items and the total score were 0.238-0.307(P<0.01).Cronbach's α coefficient,the split-half reliability coefficient,and one-week test-retsest reliability coefficient of the scale were 0.834,0.813,and 0.819,respectively.The inter-item mean correlations was 0.531.The Pearson correlation coefficients between the GUS-C and Chinese Vesion of Gambling Related Cognition(GURC-C)(including the total and five subscales)were 0.359-0.570(P<0.01),and the Pearson correlation coefficients between the GUS-C and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21(DASS-21)(including total and three subscales)were 0.238-0.307(P<0.01).The results of confirmatory factor analysis showed that the one factor model fits the data well,with the goodness of fit index(GFI)of 0.98,adjusted goodness of fit index(AGFI)of 0.97,comparative fit index(CFI)of 0.98,relative fit index(RFI)of 0.98,and mean root square error of approximation(RMSEA)of 0.053.The score of GUS-C of males(10.66±7.41)amd females(9.16±5.62)from mainland China were significant higher than Chinese in Taiwan and Australia(P<0.01 for all).ConclusionThe Chinese Version of Gambling Urge Scale has good reliability and validity and could be used as an effective tool for assessing gambling urge in mainland Chinese.