Risk Tolerance, Impulsivity, and Self-esteem: Differences and Similarities between Gamblers and Non-Gamblers in a Pilot Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14738/assrj.44.2064Abstract
Risk-taking ranges from socially beneficial entrepreneurship through games of chance as entertainment to problem gambling that can be both individually and socially destructive. There are many conflicting theories about what leads individuals to become gamblers, although some consensus suggests a link to personality traits. Links between gambling and impulsivity, risk tolerance and self-esteem remain unclear, and childhood experiences may be pertinent. To explore these issues, we studied 41 non-gamblers and compared them to 16 individuals identified as frequent gamblers in which both groups completed a psychological battery. The study goal was to try and determine which measures best relate to high propensities towards gambling, particularly with regards to different domains of risk tolerance. In this small sample, the results show the gamblers to have statistically significantly greater financial, recreational and social risk tolerance, as well as higher impulsivity and more favorable attitudes towards gambling overall. In contrast, there were no statistically significant differences in self-esteem and adverse childhood experiences. Multivariate models reveal three measures of risk tolerance to significantly contribute to gambling propensity. While differences in impulsivity exist to some degree, those for self-esteem and adverse childhood experiences were less important. This preliminary research suggests that risk tolerance may be a key psychological determinant in gamblers, but this relatively small study does not support previous suggestions that impulsivity, low self-esteem, or adverse childhood experiences are as important. Repeated studies with larger samples may help further clarify these findingsReferences
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Table:1 Analysis of covariance results Scale Controls Gamblers M SD M Financial Tolerance (FT) Total 3.264† 0.147 3.407 FT Investment Risk 2.249† 0.244 2.369 FT Risk Comfort and Experience 2.360† 0.149 2.532 FT Speculative Risk 1.738† 0.312 1.868 DOSPERT (w) Ethical 2.485† 0.288 2.743 DOSPERT (w) Financial 2.845† 0.325 3.257 DOSPERT (w) Health Safety 2.914† 0.369 3.243 DOSPERT (w) Recreational 3.252† 0.397 3.319 DOSPERT (w) Social 3.434† 0.138 3.447 DOSPERT (p) Ethical 26.439 6.108 27.188 DOSPERT (p) Financial 27.732 6.169 25.250 DOSPERT (p) Health Safety 27.342 6.744 26.625 DOSPERT (p) Recreational 22.098 6.196 21.563 DOSPERT (p) Social 15.415 4.336 16.500 BIS-11 Total 61.317 8.214 65.438 BIS-11 Attentional Impulsiveness 17.585 3.633 16.125 BIS-11 Motor Impulsiveness 21.439 3.800 25.375 BIS-11 Nonplanning Impulsiveness 22.293 3.989 23.938 GABS 73.146 9.671 90.688 PGSI 0.244 0.538 7.438 ACE 1.415 1.612 2.000 Rosenberg Self-Esteem 21.732 4.775 21.688 Note: DOSPERT (w): Domain-Specific Risk-Taking Scale – Willingness to participate; DOSPERT (p): Domain-Specific Risk-Taking Scale – Perception of risk; BIS-11: Barratt Impulsivity Scale; GABS: Gambling Attitudes and Belief Scale; PGSI: Problem Gambling Severity Index; ACE: Adverse Childhood Experience. * significant at p <0.05, ** significant at p < 0.01, *** significant at p < 0.001 †value after logarithmic transformation
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