Digital Gaming Addiction Scale (DOBO)

Problematic digital gaming behaviour

PDS — Peer and Digital Safety 10–15 min Guidance specialist

Digital Gaming Addiction Scale (DOBO) assesses problematic digital gaming behaviour. A screening of problematic gaming behaviour. The question is not how many hours a student plays but whether the behaviour has begun to displace sleep, schoolwork and relationships.

What it makes visible

Separates heavy use from problematic use - the distinction most conversations get wrong.
Gives the family a shared vocabulary that is not about hours.
Read together with wellbeing and social support, which often move alongside it.

Scope and limits

This is a screening and assessment instrument; it does not make a clinical diagnosis. The exact scope of use must be verified against the relevant instrument form, its norm group and the conditions of administration.

DOBO at a glance

Assessment area	PDS — Peer and Digital Safety
Measures	Problematic digital gaming behaviour
Duration	10–15 min
Level	Lower secondary, Upper secondary
Administered by	Guidance specialist
Format	Individual / group / digital
Follow-up	Re-assessment after 3–6 months where appropriate

Focus of the area

Surfacing peer bullying, cyberbullying and problematic digital gaming behaviour at the level of early signals.

Scenarios that include this instrument

05 — Digital life

Assessing digital behaviour and risk areas.

DOBO SZ

Frequently asked questions

No. Displacement is: what the behaviour has pushed out. Two students with the same hours can score very differently.

Scope note

This structure is designed to support assessment, screening and guidance processes — not to make a clinical diagnosis. The aim is not to diagnose but to know the student more accurately, follow their development and identify the support they need in time.