Introduction:

The assessment of video game addiction is typically performed from the DSM-5 criteria, which are based on adult population despite adolescents being the most vulnerable to this disorder. The TDV is a video game addiction test specifically aimed at Spanish-speaking adolescents, initially composed of four second-order factors of video game addiction (Abstinence, Abuse and Tolerance, Lack of Control and Associated Problems). This instrument has been validated in different Latin American countries, but with different factor structures. The present study distinguishes the reference factorial model of the TDV by subjecting it to a detailed analysis of its psychometric properties.

Methods:

During 2017-2021, the TDV was administered to 3229 adolescents from Spanish and Latin American educational centers. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to select the most appropriate internal structure of the TDV and to analyze its validity, reliability and equivalence of measurement across gender and culture groups.

Results:

All the factorial models of the TDV showed good performance, especially the multidimensional ones. The most appropriate for the instrument was the original TDV model. The psychometric study of its internal properties showed that it accurately and representatively measures the components of video game addiction in Spanish-speaking adolescents.

Discussion and conclusion:

The representativeness of Latin America in epidemiological studies has been compromised by the lack of homogeneity in the assessment. The cross-cultural validity of the TDV indicates that it is a useful instrument for descriptive and interventional purposes in Spain and Latin America.

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