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Published in: Journal of Gambling Studies 4/2015

01-12-2015 | Original Paper

A Personality-Based Latent Class Analysis of Emerging Adult Gamblers

Authors: Jennifer L. Tackett, Lindsey M. Rodriguez, Dipali V. Rinker, Clayton Neighbors

Published in: Journal of Gambling Studies | Issue 4/2015

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Abstract

Increases in access to gambling venues have been accompanied by increased gambling behavior among young adults. The present research examined associations among Five Factor Model personality traits, motives for gambling, and gambling behavior and problems using latent class analysis. College students (N = 220) completed online measures of personality and gambling behavior as part of a larger intervention trial. Agreeableness and conscientiousness were negatively associated with indicators of gambling behavior. Low agreeableness and high neuroticism were associated with gambling-specific motives, particularly for less frequently endorsed motives. Personality-based latent class analyses of emerging adult gamblers revealed support for three distinct groups reflecting a resilient personality group, a normative personality group, and a vulnerable personality group, which were further differentiated by gambling behaviors and gambling-specific motives. Associations between personality traits and gambling-specific motives highlight potential heterogeneity among college students who gamble. Together, findings suggest that the correlational and latent class-based analyses, as well as the personality and motivation analyses, present complementary information with respect to the attributes of college student gamblers. Implications and future research directions are discussed.
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Metadata
Title
A Personality-Based Latent Class Analysis of Emerging Adult Gamblers
Authors
Jennifer L. Tackett
Lindsey M. Rodriguez
Dipali V. Rinker
Clayton Neighbors
Publication date
01-12-2015
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Gambling Studies / Issue 4/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3602
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-014-9500-3

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