Psychometric analysis of brief adolescent gambling screen, problem gambling severity index, and gambling motives questionnaire-financial among Ghanaian adolescents

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Brief Adolescent Sport Betting Screen (BASBS), Problem Sport Betting Severity Index (PSBSI), and Sport Betting Motives Questionnaire–Financial (SBMQF) among Ghanaian adolescents. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 514 adolescents (352 males and 162 females) recruited from six public senior high schools in Accra, Ghana. Confirmatory factor analysis and multigroup confirmatory factor analysis were performed to examine the factorial validity, internal consistency, measurement invariance across sex, and convergent validity of the three instruments. The PSBSI demonstrated a one-factor structure, whereas the SBMQF supported the hypothesised four-factor structure. Both instruments exhibited satisfactory internal consistency, measurement invariance across sex, and expected convergent validity, supporting their suitability for assessing sports betting severity and betting motives among Ghanaian adolescents. Although the BASBS demonstrated an acceptable one-factor structure, it showed lower internal consistency, lack of full measurement invariance, and unexpected convergent validity, indicating that further cultural adaptation and validation are required. These findings provide initial psychometric evidence supporting the use of the PSBSI and SBMQF in adolescent sports betting research, school-based screening, and prevention programmes in Ghana.