The Persian internet gaming cognition scale: A psychometric evaluation among Iranian adolescents.

BACKGROUND

Maladaptive gaming-related cognitions are theorized to maintain problematic gaming in adolescence. The Internet Gaming Cognition Scale (IGCS) assesses these cognitions, but no culturally adapted Persian version had been evaluated for Iranian adolescents.

METHODS

After permission from the original author, the IGCS was translated and culturally adapted using forward translation, reconciliation, back-translation, and author confirmation. Online data were collected from 1191 Iranian adolescents. Construct validity was examined using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with DWLS estimation. Reliability, item-total statistics, external validity, AVE, HTMT, and multidimensional graded response model (GRM) parameters were evaluated.

RESULTS

The four-factor CFA model showed acceptable-to-good fit (CFI = 0.990, TLI = 0.989, RMSEA = 0.079, SRMR = 0.060). Total-scale reliability was excellent (α = 0.944), and corrected item-total correlations ranged from 0.226 to 0.732. AVE values ranged from 0.460 to 0.618, whereas HTMT indices indicated high factor overlap. The multidimensional GRM fit better than the unidimensional model, χ2(6) = 212.090, p < .001. Non-zero discrimination parameters ranged from 0.437 to 3.765, and ordered thresholds supported the five response categories. The IGCS correlated positively with gaming addiction (r = 0.660, p < .001) and negatively with self-esteem (r = -0.237, p < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

The Persian IGCS showed satisfactory structural fit, excellent reliability, and acceptable item-level evidence. Given the high overlap among factors, the total score is recommended as the primary indicator, whereas subscale scores should be interpreted cautiously.