Internet Gaming Disorder Scale–Short–Form (IGDS9–SF)

These questions will ask you about your gaming activity during the past year (i.e., last 12 months). By gaming activity we understand any gaming–related activity that has been played either from a computer/laptop or from a gaming console or any other kind of device (e.g., mobile phone, tablet, etc.) both online and/or offline.

Answer each of the questions below according to the following scale: (1) never, (2) rarely, (3) sometimes, (4) often, (5) very often.

  1. Do you feel preoccupied with your gaming behavior? (Some examples: Do you think about previous gaming activity or anticipate the next gaming session? Do you think gaming has become the dominant activity in your daily life?)
  2. Do you feel more irritability, anxiety, or even sadness when you try to either reduce or stop your gaming activity?
  3. Do you feel the need to spend increasing amount of time engaged in gaming in order to achieve satisfaction or pleasure?
  4. Do you systematically fail when trying to control or cease your gaming activity?
  5. Have you lost interest in previous hobbies and other entertainment activities as a result of your engagement with the game?
  6. Have you continued your gaming activity despite knowing it was causing problems between you and other people?
  7. Have you deceived any of your family members, therapists, or others because the amount of your gaming activity?
  8. Do you play in order to temporarily escape or relieve a negative mood (e.g., helplessness, guilt, anxiety)?
  9. Have you jeopardized or lost an important relationship, job, or an educational or career opportunity because of your gaming activity?

If you or someone you know answers 5 or more questions with “very often,” consider seeking assistance from a professional regarding this gaming behavior. Help is available. Call 1-800-522-4700.

 

Pontes, H. M., & Griffiths, M. D. (2015). Measuring DSM–5 Internet Gaming Disorder: Development and validation of a short psychometric scale. Computers in Human Behavior, 45, 137–143. doi:10.1016/j.chb.2014.12.006