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

Abstract

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 model's variables, including urgency, delay discounting, and deliberative decision-making.

Steep delay discounting and addictive behavior: a meta-analysis of continuous associations

“…Furthermore, due to the limited number of studies reporting continuous associations in opiate users (and also to a certain extent in stimulant users), these findings primarily apply to alcohol, tobacco, gambling, and cannabis. The studies included in this meta-analysis largely involved adult samples, with some exceptions [53, 61–63], which limits generalizability of these findings to other developmental periods such as adolescent substance use.…”

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

“…Recent studies found that young people who tend to act rashly in response to extreme moods show higher enhancement and coping motives, which are, in turn, positively related to gambling problems (Canale, Vieno, Griffiths, Rubaltelli, & Santinello, 2015a). They were also more likely to have lower levels of deliberative decision-making and higher preferences for immediate/small rewards, which in turn were positively related to gambling problems (Canale, Vieno, Griffiths, Rubaltelli, & Santinello, 2015b). In explaining the potential effect of impulsivity on gambling problems, these previous studies used possible causal factors related to individual characteristics (i.e., motives and decision-making processes), but other unconsidered factors associated with youth (i.e., environmental factors) may also explain the relationship between impulsivity and gambling problems.…”

Adolescent problem gambling requires community-level health promotion approaches

“…In addition to the aforementioned commercial and environmental pre-disposing factors, adolescence is a transitional period in which risk-taking behaviours are typically pronounced. For example, while adolescents are generally able to undertake a cost-benefit analysis in respect of a given choice, their levels of deliberative decision-making are lower compared to young adults (Canale et al 2015). Furthermore, given that adolescents are likely to have a myopic focus on reward, they are more susceptible to gambling-related cognitive distortions such as superstitions and the inability to understand independence of turns (Canale et al 2015).…”

“…For example, while adolescents are generally able to undertake a cost-benefit analysis in respect of a given choice, their levels of deliberative decision-making are lower compared to young adults (Canale et al 2015). Furthermore, given that adolescents are likely to have a myopic focus on reward, they are more susceptible to gambling-related cognitive distortions such as superstitions and the inability to understand independence of turns (Canale et al 2015). Compared to previous generations, the youth of today are also likely to regard gambling as a much more socially acceptable and widely promoted activity (Canale et al 2016).…”