Factor structure of the Gambling Symptom Assessment Scale among treatment-seeking adults in Singapore

Abstract

The revised 12-item Gambling Symptom Assessment Scale (G-SAS) is a measure designed to assess gambling symptom severity. However, its factor structure has not been examined. The present study investigates the factor structure of the G-SAS based on a treatment-seeking population in Singapore. Participants were 521 patients presenting with problem gambling at a tertiary psychiatric hospital. Patients completed the G-SAS, gambling-related measures and the Personal Wellbeing Index (PWI), and were assessed by a psychiatrist for pathological gambling (PG) based on DSM-IV-TR criteria. Exploratory factor analysis resulted in a two-factor solution, with factors indicating (1) gambling impulse and (2) adverse consequences. Together, both factors explained for 77.10% of variance in G-SAS scores. The two-factor model was subsequently confirmed based on confirmatory factor analysis. Additionally, G-SAS scores were associated with multiple gambling-related indicators and discriminated between patients with and without a diagnosis of PG. Findings from the study suggest that the G-SAS consists of two factors, and is a reliable and valid tool for the assessment of gambling symptom severity in clinical settings.