Abstract
Despite the prevalence of gambling world-wide, relatively few individuals become problem gamblers. Additionally many problem
gamblers recover without professional assistance. The current study aim was to examine how individuals self-manage their gambling
through (a) assessing frequency of use of a range of self-regulation strategies (b) examining how these strategies cluster
and (c) exploring relationships between strategies, gambling frequency, amount spent and problem gambling severity. A sample
of 303 gamblers was recruited, over-sampling for problem gamblers as assessed by the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI)
of the Canadian Problem Gambling Index (mean age 26.4 years, SD = 10.1 years; 119 males, 184 females; 238 social gamblers,
63 problem gamblers, 2 unclassified). They rated extent of usage of 27 gambling self-management techniques and completed the
PGSI and other gambling measures. Factor analysis of items produced five factors, named Cognitive Approaches, Direct Action,
Social Experience, Avoidance and Limit Setting. The relationships between these factors and key gambling variables were consistent
with hypotheses that problem gamblers trying to reduce their gambling would be more likely to use the strategies than other
gambler groups. The potential for developing the factors into a Gambling Self-regulation Measure was explored.
gamblers recover without professional assistance. The current study aim was to examine how individuals self-manage their gambling
through (a) assessing frequency of use of a range of self-regulation strategies (b) examining how these strategies cluster
and (c) exploring relationships between strategies, gambling frequency, amount spent and problem gambling severity. A sample
of 303 gamblers was recruited, over-sampling for problem gamblers as assessed by the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI)
of the Canadian Problem Gambling Index (mean age 26.4 years, SD = 10.1 years; 119 males, 184 females; 238 social gamblers,
63 problem gamblers, 2 unclassified). They rated extent of usage of 27 gambling self-management techniques and completed the
PGSI and other gambling measures. Factor analysis of items produced five factors, named Cognitive Approaches, Direct Action,
Social Experience, Avoidance and Limit Setting. The relationships between these factors and key gambling variables were consistent
with hypotheses that problem gamblers trying to reduce their gambling would be more likely to use the strategies than other
gambler groups. The potential for developing the factors into a Gambling Self-regulation Measure was explored.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-16
- DOI 10.1007/s10899-011-9265-x
- Authors
- Susan M. Moore, Faculty of Life and Social Sciences, Swinburne University, PO Box 218, Hawthorn, VIC 3122, Australia
- Anna C. Thomas, Faculty of Life and Social Sciences, Swinburne University, PO Box 218, Hawthorn, VIC 3122, Australia
- Michael Kyrios, Faculty of Life and Social Sciences, Swinburne University, PO Box 218, Hawthorn, VIC 3122, Australia
- Glen Bates, Faculty of Life and Social Sciences, Swinburne University, PO Box 218, Hawthorn, VIC 3122, Australia
- Journal Journal of Gambling Studies
- Online ISSN 1573-3602
- Print ISSN 1050-5350