The surge of online gambling practices in Indonesia, estimated to involve 1 percent of the population, with the majority in productive age groups, highlights the need for an accurate screening tool to detect gambling disorder and its impacts on mental health, social relationships, and work performance. Responding to this need, a multidisciplinary research team from the Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), in collaboration with the Karolinska Institute, Sweden, is adapting and validating the Gambling Disorder Identification Test (GDIT) into Indonesian. This initiative is expected to provide a valid and reliable screening instrument for researchers and practitioners in Indonesia.
The study is led by Ardian Rahman Afandi, S.Psi., M.Psi., Psikolog, supported by faculty researchers Dr. Bagus Riyono, M.A., Psikolog; Zahra Frida Intani, S.Psi., M.Psi., Psikolog; Ramadhan Dwi Marvianto, S.Psi., M.A, with cross-faculty collaboration from Ardiyanto, M.Sc., Ph.D., Faculty of Engineering UGM. Two master’s students, Mikael Reno Prasasto and Adhiyajnaputri, are involved in data collection and processing. Internationally, Olof Molander, Ph.D., the original developer of GDIT from the Karolinska Institute, serves as an expert partner and methodological advisor. The six-month project is funded by the 2025 Research Grant from the Faculty of Psychology UGM and spans Indonesia–Sweden.
GDIT is a DSM-5–based instrument with strong validity and reliability evidence across countries. However, differences in language and social norms require cross-cultural adaptation to ensure each item’s meaning remains intact and relevant in Indonesia. The adaptation follows established steps: initial forward translation by two independent translators, synthesis of both versions, back-translation by two other translators, and expert review involving the UGM team and the original developer.
Following the pilot, the research proceeds to the psychometric evaluation of the Indonesian version. Construct validity and reliability are examined to assess dimensional structure and score stability. Convergent and divergent validity are also tested using related instruments such as Brief Self-Control Scale and a short Big Five measure to gauge theoretically consistent relationships across constructs.
The urgency of this study is grounded in prior research linking gambling disorder with depression, anxiety, impaired impulse control, and financial and relational difficulties. At the organizational level, easy access to gambling and persistent addictive patterns may trigger counterproductive work behaviors. Without a validated Indonesian-language screening tool, early detection, clinical referral, and preventive policy design are less effective. The availability of the Indonesian GDIT is expected to strengthen empirical data, improve clinical assessment quality, and support evidence-based policies in workplaces and communities.
The project’s outputs include registering intellectual property (IP) for the Indonesian GDIT along with its blueprint, user module, and manual, as well as publishing scientific articles in international journals. Faculty- and university-level communications are planned to broaden public understanding of mental health issues related to online gambling. As a cross-disciplinary effort, the project integrates clinical psychology, psychometrics, ergonomics, and industrial engineering. Involvement of the original GDIT developer helps maintain alignment with international standards, while testing within the Indonesian population ensures practical utility. The Indonesian GDIT is targeted to become an accurate, user-friendly instrument with broad benefits for clinicians, researchers, and institutions. Ultimately, validating the Indonesian GDIT is a strategic step to reduce the psychological, social, and economic burdens of online gambling while supporting the Sustainable Development Goals in Indonesia.
Writer: Raden Roro Anisa Anggi Dinda