Internet Gaming Disorder Scale – Short Form

What it measures

Measures Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) aligned to the nine DSM-5 proposed criteria: preoccupation, withdrawal, tolerance, loss of control, loss of other interests, continued use despite problems, deception, escape/mood modification, and jeopardising relationships/work. Each item operationalises one DSM-5 criterion.

Response format

Likert (1–5, never to very often) over the past 12 months; total 9–45

Representative items

• Do you feel preoccupied with your gaming behaviour? (Preoccupation)
• Do you feel more irritability, anxiety, or sadness when you try to reduce or stop your gaming activity? (Withdrawal)
• Do you feel the need to spend increasing amounts of time gaming? (Tolerance)
• Do you feel that you should cut down on your gaming activity but find it difficult to do so? (Loss of Control)
• Have you lost significant relationships, job opportunities, or educational opportunities because of your gaming? (Jeopardising)

Usage notes & scoring

Freely available from Halley Pontes. Total score >=32 may indicate clinically significant IGD; use with caution — DSM-5 emphasises functional impairment. Three or more criteria must be present for a potential IGD diagnosis. Widely used alongside wellbeing and depression measures in gaming research.

Recommended companion scales

Citation

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.

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