Abstract:

The aim of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI-T). The study sample included 182 voluntary university students (mean age=24.06 years) who reported that they had participated in gambling at least once in the previous year. The results of the confirmatory factor analyses supported the unifactorial structure of the PGSI-T among the Turkish university students participated in gambling. Cronbach’s alpha for the PGSI-T was good (α=0.82). Positive and significant correlations of the PGSI-T with gambling-related variables such as gambling frequency, gambling harm, South Oaks Gambling Screen supported the concurrent validity of the scale; whereas higher scores of the probable problem gamblers on PGSI-T compared to the nonproblem gamblers supported the criterion validity of the scale. These findings suggest that PGSI-T is a valid and reliable instrument to assess gambling problems among Turkish university students. Future research with more representative samples will be useful in testing the generalizability of these findings.

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