Slovak Validation of the Online Gambling Disorder Questionnaire (OGD-Q)

Background: Online gambling has become a growing public health issue, and validating new measures like the Online Gambling Disorder Questionnaire (OGD-Q) in the Slovak environment is critical to start addressing this concern. Objective: Therefore, the objective was to assess the psychometric properties and adapt the instrument to the Slovak socio-cultural context. Methodology: A nationwide representative sample of 1005 Slovak adults was used for the analysis. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to assess model fit with the data. Network analysis was conducted to examine the item dynamics and communities. Construct validity was assessed via Spearman’s rank-order correlations with measures of psychological distress, mentalization impairments, and maladaptive personality traits. Measurement invariance across gender was evaluated using multi-group confirmatory factor analysis. Results: CFA indicated excellent model fit for both one-factor and two-factor solutions. Network analysis revealed two item communities and identified items with weaker network connectivity. Construct validity analyses showed statistically significant associations between OGD-Q scores and multiple indicators of psychological distress, with strong correlations observed for risk of self-harm, impulsivity, anxiety, depression, and trauma-related symptoms. Particularly strong positive associations were also found with maladaptive personality traits, especially disinhibition, antagonism, and psychoticism. Associations with impairments in mentalization, specifically difficulties in emotional awareness and affect regulation, were relatively weaker but remained statistically significant. Measurement invariance analyses supported full invariance between men and women. Conclusion: Altogether, these findings support the OGD-Q as a highly reliable, valid, and gender-invariant instrument for assessing problematic online gambling in the Slovak population.