Validation of the Chinese Stress Sensitivity Inventory and Its Association With Internet Gaming Disorder Symptoms

Objective This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Stress Sensitivity Inventory (SSI), a self-reported instrument that assesses trait stress sensitivity in adults, and to examine the relationship between the SSI and symptoms of internet gaming disorder (IGD).Methods The Chinese SSI was administered, along with the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale (IGDS) and scales assessing perceived stress, anxiety, depression, and neuroticism. Data from 1,085 valid respondents (with 347 respondents who retested 4 weeks later) were analyzed. A mixed graphical model was utilized to estimate the network structure properties of stress sensitivity and IGDS symptoms.Results Item #5 was removed due to low coherence with other items. The scale demonstrated a unidimensional structure with strong reliability (Cronbach’s α=0.90, test-retest reliability=0.75) and validity. SSI scores were positively correlated with IGDS scores (r=0.42, p<0.001). In the SSI network, items with the highest expected influence were #8 (functional impairment), #6 (cognitive decline), and #3 (mental freeze). In the SSI–IGD network, items #8 (functional impairment) and #9 (substance use) showed the strongest bridge expected influence on the SSI side.Conclusion The Chinese SSI demonstrates good reliability and validity, making it a suitable instrument for assessing stress sensitivity in both clinical and research settings. Network analysis revealed significant interconnections between stress sensitivity and IGD symptoms, with functional impairment (item #8) emerging as a particularly influential node both within the SSI cluster and in linking SSI to IGD.