Background: The Internet Addiction Test (IAT) is the most widely used questionnaire to screen for problematic Internet use.
Nevertheless, its factorial structure is still debated, which complicates comparisons among existing studies. Most previous studies
were performed with students or community samples despite the probability of there being more problematic Internet use among
users of specific applications, such as online gaming or gambling.
Objective: To assess the factorial structure of a modified version of the IAT that addresses specific applications, such as video
games and online poker.
Methods: Two adult samples—one sample of Internet gamers (n=920) and one sample of online poker players (n=214)—were
recruited and completed an online version of the modified IAT. Both samples were split into two subsamples. Two principal
component analyses (PCAs) followed by two confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) were run separately.
Results: The results of principal component analysis indicated that a one-factor model fit the data well across both samples. In
consideration of the weakness of some IAT items, a 17-item modified version of the IAT was proposed.
Conclusions: This study assessed, for the first time, the factorial structure of a modified version of an Internet-administered
IAT on a sample of Internet gamers and a sample of online poker players. The scale seems appropriate for the assessment of such
online behaviors. Further studies on the modified 17-item IAT version are needed.