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How Do Impulsivity Traits Influence Problem Gambling Through Gambling Motives? The Role of Perceived Gambling Risk/Benefits

Although substantial research suggests that motivations have been found to mediate the relationships between impulsivity traits and various forms of substance use, no studies have examined how gambling motives may mediate the relationships between impulsivity traits and problem gambling. The primary purpose of this study was to test an integrative model linking impulsivity traits and gambling problems, evaluating the mediating effects of gambling motives. Participants were 594 students (73% male; age, M = 19.92 years; SD = 2.91) enrolled in public high schools or universities. Young people who tend to act rashly in response to extremely positive moods showed higher enhancement and coping motives, which in turn were positively related to gambling problems. Individuals with higher levels of sensation seeking were more likely to have higher levels of enhancement motives, which in turn were also positively related to gambling problems. The model was examined in several groups, separately for the level of perceived gambling risk/benefits (lower perceived gambling risk, higher perceived gambling risk, lower perceived gambling benefits, and higher perceived gambling benefits). There were significant differences between these groups for this division. These findings suggest that prevention and/or treatment strategies might need to consider the models variables, including impulsivity traits and gambling motives, in accordance with individual levels of perceived gambling risk/benefits.

Income inequality and adolescent gambling severity: Findings from a large-scale italian representative survey

Background: Studies have shown that problems related to adult gambling have a geographical and social gradient. For instance, adults experiencing gambling-related harms live in areas of greater deprivation; are unemployed, and have lower income. However, little is known about the impact of socioeconomic inequalities on adolescent problem gambling. The main purpose of the present study was to investigate the contextual influences of income inequality on at-risk or problem gambling (ARPG) in a large-scale nationally representative sample of Italian adolescents. A secondary aim was to analyze the association between perceived social support (from family, peers, teachers, and classmates) and ARPG. Methods: Data from the 2013–2014 Health Behavior in School-aged Children Survey (HBSC) Study was used for cross-sectional analyses of ARPG. A total of 20,791 15-year-old students completed self-administered questionnaires. Region-level data on income inequality (GINI index) and overall wealth (GDP per capita) were retrieved from the National Institute of Statistics (Istat). The data were analyzed using the multi-level logistic regression analysis, with students at the first level and regions at the second level. Results: The study demonstrated a North–South gradient for the prevalence of ARPG, with higher prevalence of ARPG in the Southern/Islands/Central Regions (e.g., 11% in Sicily) than in Northern Italy (e.g., 2% in Aosta Valley). Students in regions of high-income inequality were significantly more likely than those in regions of low-income inequality to be at-risk or problem gamblers (following adjustment for sex, family structure, family affluence, perceived social support, and regionale wealth). Additionally, perceived social support from parents and teachers were negatively related to ARPG. Conclusions: Income inequality may have a contextual influence on ARPG. More specifically, living in regions of highest income inequality appeared to be a potential factor that increases the likelihood of becoming an at-risk or problem gambler. Findings of the study suggest that wealth distribution within societies affected by economic policies may indirectly have an influence adolescent gambling behaviors.

Validation of the reasons for gambling questionnaire (RGQ) in a British population survey

INTRODUCTION The aims of the study are to validate and further psychometrically test the five-dimensional structure of the Reasons for Gambling Questionnaire (RGQ), and to test the differences between different types of gamblers (i.e., offline gamblers who gambled in-person only vs. mixed-mode gamblers who gambled both online and offline) on the five dimensions of the RGQ. METHODS Data from the 2010 British Gambling Prevalence Survey (BGPS) were used. The analyzed data comprised 5677 individuals (52.7% female; mean age=47.64 years; SD=17.82). Confirmatory factor analysis and independent-sample t-tests were applied. RESULTS The five-dimensional structure of the RGQ was confirmed in the general sample and among gender and age subgroups. Furthermore, mixed-mode gamblers (MMGs) who gambled both online and offline had higher scores for enhancement, recreation and money motives than offline gamblers that gambled in-person only (IPGs). In addition among males, there was a significant difference in the scores for enhancement and recreation motives across MMGs and IPGs. Among past-year gamblers aged 16-34 years, MMGs had higher scores for enhancement, recreational and monetary motives than IPGs while among past-year gamblers aged 35-55 years, MMGs had higher scores for enhancement and recreational motives than IPGs. CONCLUSIONS The results are consistent with a previous test of the RGQ and the findings indicate that the RGQ is a valid instrument to assess gambling motives among the general population.

The Extent and Distribution of Gambling-Related Harms and the Prevention Paradox in a British Population Survey

Objectives To examine whether the “prevention paradox” applies to British individuals in relation to gambling-related harm. Methods Data were derived from 7,756 individuals participating in the British Gambling Prevalence Survey 2010, a comprehensive interview-based survey conducted in Great Britain between November 2009 and May 2010. Gambling-related harm was assessed using an adapted version of the DSM-IV Pathological Gambling criteria. The previous year’s prevalence of problem gamblers was examined using the Problem Gambling Severity Index. Gambling involvement was measured by gambling frequency and gambling participation (gambling volume as expressed by time and money spent gambling). Results The prevalence rates for past-year gambling harms were dependence harm (16.4%), social harm (2.2%), and chasing losses (7.9%). Gambling-related harms were distributed across low- to moderate-risk gamblers (and not limited to just problem gamblers) and were reported by the majority of gamblers who were non-high time and spend regular gamblers than high time and spend regular gamblers. Conclusions The prevention paradox is a promising way of examining gambling-related harm. This suggests that prevention of gambling might need to consider the population approach to minimizing gambling harm.

The efficacy of computerized alcohol intervention tailored to drinking motives among college students: a quasi-experimental pilot study.

Abstract Background: Although motivational processes may influence the intervention effects and help prevention programmes identify students at great risk for alcohol-related problems, no computerized alcohol intervention has yet to be tailored to drinking motives. Objective: To describe the development and initial pilot testing of a computer-delivered intervention tailored to drinking motives, to prevent alcohol abuse and its adverse consequences among university students in general and among baseline hazardous drinkers specifically. Methods: 124 college students attending a public university in northeastern Italy participated in this study in October of 2012 (89.2% female- mean age = 21.64–34% baseline hazardous drinkers). Two classes (one undergraduate, one graduate) were assigned to one of two conditions: intervention and control group. Both groups received profile-specific feedback and then the intervention group received profile-specific online training for 4 weeks. This profile was based on their risk type (high-low) and drinking motives (enhancement-social-conformity-coping). Results: Controlling for corresponding baseline alcohol measures, analyses showed a significant interaction between intervention condition and hazardous drinkers at baseline. For hazardous drinkers at baseline, the alcohol intervention results showed a significant decrease in frequency and quantity of alcohol use at follow-up, while no difference was observed between intervention conditions for non-hazardous drinkers at baseline. Conclusions: The results suggest that hazardous drinkers (college students) who completed the specific training and received personalized feedback seemed to do better on frequency and quantity of alcohol use than hazardous drinkers (college students) who received only personalized feedback. These results seem to provide support for a larger trial of the intervention and for more appropriate evaluations.

The benefits of using the UPPS model of impulsivity rather than the Big Five when assessing the relationship between personality and problem gambling

Brunborg et al.’s recent paper [1] focuses on the relevance of personality factors associated with problem gambling (PG) in a study in which personality traits were examined along with subclinical gambling problems in a large-scale epidemiological sample. The study offers new insights into specific personality traits associated with PG, namely high neuroticism and low conscientiousness [1]. If these traits are indeed the most relevant personality dimensions linked to PG, then in our communicationwewould like to suggest using the UPPS model of impulsivity [2] as a more suitable framework to help us understand the relationship between personality and PG, rather than the Big Five model [3]. Based on the UPPS model [2,4], impulsivity is an umbrella construct reflected by four distinct dimensions: (i) negative urgency, defined as the tendency to act rashly while faced with intense negative emotional contexts (emotion-laden impulsivity); (ii) premeditation, defined as the tendency to take into account the consequences of an act before engaging in that act; (iii) perseverance, defined as the ability to remain focused on a task that may be boring and/or difficult; and (iv) sensation-seeking, considered as a tendency to enjoy and pursue activities that are exciting and openness to trying new experiences. In relation to the arguments developed in the current letter, it is important to emphasize that each factor has an analogue among the facets of the Big Five personality traits. Negative urgency is related strongly to neuroticism (and not to conscientiousness, as stated erroneously by Brunborg et al. [1]). Furthermore, according to Settles et al. [5], negative urgency explains variance in externalizing behaviours beyond that accounted for by other personality factors that correlate strongly with neuroticism. Moreover, it has been shown that urgency is the impulsivity facet that distinguishes more strongly between treatment-seeking pathological gamblers and matched control participants [6]. However, in comparison to neuroticism, negative urgency is a narrower construct that has been linked to specific executive and affective mechanisms (e.g. poor pre-potent response inhibition, heightened emotion reactivity) [7,8], allowing the development of more focused prevention and treatment strategies [9]. Premeditation and perseverance relate, respectively, to the ‘deliberation’ and ‘self-discipline’ facets of conscientiousness. These two UPPS components rely upon distinct underlying mechanisms [10], which are not linked identically to PG [11]. In fact, the lack of premeditation has been associated with poor decision-making abilities, which is an established hallmark of PG [12,13], whereas the lack of perseverance has been linked rather to attentional processes that are not necessary altered in PG. Accordingly, it is not surprising that low premeditation (but not low perseverance) is elevated in PG. It is thus likely that screening tools able to distinguish between premeditation and perseverance are more relevant in relation to the prevention and treatment of PG than measures capturing only a broad and multi-determined construct of conscientiousness (such as the one used in Brunborg et al. [1]). Finally, the construct of sensation-seeking (asmeasured by the UPPS) is probably more relevant in relation to PG than the broader construct of extraversion (measured by the Big Five and unrelated to PG in Brunborg et al. [1]). Indeed, although linked inconsistently to PG per se, a heightened level of sensation-seeking has been associated consistently with certain gambling preferences (e.g. gambling frequency, favoured types of games) [14,15], and thus constitutes relevant information when tailoring prevention efforts in gamblers (for example, in relation to specific game types).

Trait urgency and gambling problems in young people by age: The mediating role of decision-making processes

Although the personality trait of urgency has been linked to problem gambling, less is known about psychological mechanisms that mediate the relationship between urgency and problem gambling. One individual variable of potential relevance to impulsivity and addictive disorders is age. The aims of this study were to examine: (i) a theoretical model associating urgency and gambling problems, (ii) the mediating effects of decision-making processes (operationalized as preference for small/immediate rewards and lower levels of deliberative decision-making); and (iii) age differences in these relationships. Participants comprised 986 students (64% male; mean age=19.51 years; SD=2.30) divided into three groups: 16-17 years, 18-21 years, and 22-25 years. All participants completed measures of urgency, problem gambling, and a delay-discounting questionnaire involving choices between a smaller amount of money received immediately and a larger amount of money received later. Participants were also asked to reflect on their decision-making process. Compared to those aged 16-17 years and 22-25 years, participants aged 18-21 years had a higher level of gambling problems and decreased scores on lower levels of deliberative decision-making. Higher levels of urgency were associated with higher levels of gambling problems. The association was mediated by a lower level of deliberative decision-making and preference for an immediate/small reward. A distinct pathway was observed for lower levels of deliberative decision-making. Young people who tend to act rashly in response to extreme moods, had lower levels of deliberative decision-making, that in turn were positively related to gambling problems. This study highlights unique decision-making pathways through which urgency trait may operate, suggesting that those developing prevention and/or treatment strategies may want to consider the models variables, including urgency, delay discounting, and deliberative decision-making.

The efficacy of a web-based gambling intervention program for high school students

Early onset in adolescent gambling involvement can be a precipitator of later gambling problems. The aim of the present study was to test the preliminary efficacy of a web-based gambling intervention program for students within a high school-based setting. Students attending a high school in Italy (N?=?168) participated in the present study (58% male - age, M?=?15.01; SD?=?0.60). Twelve classes were randomly assigned to one of two conditions: intervention (N?=?6; 95 students) and control group (N?=?6; 73 students). Both groups received personalized feedback and then the intervention group received online training (interactive activities) for three weeks. At a two-month follow-up, students in the intervention group reported a reduction in gambling problems relative to those in the control group. However, there were no differences in gambling frequency, gambling expenditure, and attitudes toward the profitability of gambling between the two groups. In addition, frequent gamblers (i.e., those that gambled at least once a week at baseline) showed reductions in gambling problems and gambling frequency post-intervention. Frequent gamblers that only received personalized feedback showed significantly less realistic attitudes toward the profitability of gambling post-intervention. The present study is the first controlled study to test the preliminary efficacy of a web-based gambling intervention program for students within a high school-based setting. The results indicate that a brief web-based intervention delivered in the school setting may be a potentially promising strategy for a low-threshold, low-cost, preventive tool for at-risk gambling high school students. The efficacy of a web-based intervention for adolescent gambling was tested.Twelve classes were randomized into either intervention or control groups.The intervention group reported fewer gambling problems than controls.The intervention decreased the amount of gambling among frequent gamblers.Results provide support for a web-based gambling intervention via schools.

Adolescent gambling and impulsivity: Does employment during high school moderate the association?

The aim of the present study was to examine the potential moderating relationships between adolescent gambling and impulsivity traits (negative urgency, positive urgency, lack of premeditation, lack of perseverance and sensation seeking) with employment status. High-school students (N=400; 69% male; mean age=18.35years; SD=1.16; past year gamblers) were surveyed to provide data on impulsivity and employment. Multiple linear regression analysis was applied to examine associations with gambling and related problems. Positive urgency was associated with stronger scores of both gambling frequency and problem gambling. Students in employment had substantially higher frequency of gambling and greater problem gambling. Moreover, the combination of having a job and low perseverance was associated with a particularly high frequency on gambling. These findings further support the importance of positive urgency and employment status in adolescent gambling. The study highlights unique moderating relationship between gambling and lack of perseverance with employment status. Youth with a low perseverance and having a job may have particular need for interventions to reduce gambling.

Impulsivity influences betting under stress in laboratory gambling

Although recent research suggests that acute stress influences subsequent decision-making under ambiguity, less is known about the role of personality variables in this relationship. This study tested whether impulsivity traits and acute stress differentially influence the way in which a prior feedback is incorporated into further decisions involving ambiguity. Sixty college students (50% male; aged 18–25 years) were randomly assigned to a stress versus a non-stress condition before completing a laboratory gambling task. The results revealed that independently of the stress condition, subjects behaved as if the odds of winning increase after a single loss. Additionally, stress effects varied as a function of impulsivity traits. Individuals who lacked perseverance (i.e., had difficulty focusing on a difficult or boring task) gambled more after experiencing a loss in the stress condition than did those in the control condition. The present study supports that impulsivity traits can explain the differential effect of stress on the relationship between prior feedback and choices made under ambiguity.