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01-06-2014 | Original Paper

Exploring a Multidimensional Approach to Impulsivity in Predicting College Student Gambling

Authors: Meredith K. Ginley, James P. Whelan, Andrew W. Meyers, George E. Relyea, Godfrey D. Pearlson

Published in: Journal of Gambling Studies | Issue 2/2014

Abstract

Impulsivity has been implicated as a contributing factor in the development of gambling problems among college students, but attempts to confirm this relation have been inconsistent. One explanation for these incongruent findings is that impulsivity may be multidimensional and that distinct dimensions differentially predict separate behaviors. Using a large, diverse sample of college students, a factor analysis of self-report measures related to impulsivity revealed a three-factor structure of Behavioral Activation, Preference for Stimulation, and Inhibition Control that was similar to the structure found by Meda et al. (Behav Pharmacol 20(5–6):390–399, 2009) in a different adult sample. Low risk gamblers and symptomatic gamblers scored significantly lower on Behavioral Activation and Inhibition Control than non-gamblers. Conversely, low risk gamblers and symptomatic gamblers scored significantly higher on Preference for Stimulation. Prevalence of gambling and gambling activity preference for this sample was also assessed.

Given the mixed findings for model fit, and because when model Chi square is calculated with more than three scales loading on one factor a significant amount of error variance is introduced to the model, an exploratory follow up model was run to consider the contributions of unexplained error variances to the model. This model revealed that the commonality for SPSRQ SR was 10 %. This suggests that the factor structure left a sizable percent variance unexplained for the SPSRQ SR scale.

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Title: Exploring a Multidimensional Approach to Impulsivity in Predicting College Student Gambling
Authors: Meredith K. Ginley
James P. Whelan
Andrew W. Meyers
George E. Relyea
Godfrey D. Pearlson
Publication date: 01-06-2014
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Gambling Studies / Issue 2/2014
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3602
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-013-9374-9

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Exploring a Multidimensional Approach to Impulsivity in Predicting College Student Gambling

Abstract

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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