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Published in: Journal of Gambling Studies 3/2010

01-09-2010 | Original Paper

Personality, Gender, and Family History in the Prediction of College Gambling

Authors: Serena M. King, Kenneth Abrams, Todd Wilkinson

Published in: Journal of Gambling Studies | Issue 3/2010

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Abstract

The present study examined the degree to which gambling behaviors and gambling-relevant cognitive distortions could be predicted by personality factors, gender, and familial history of substance use and gambling problems in a large sample of college students (N = 581). Results indicate that parental gambling problems and, especially for males, a propensity to experience negative emotions predicted time spent gambling and gambling problems. Negative emotionality, along with parental substance use problems, impulsivity, and being male predicted gambling-related cognitive distortions. The differing pattern for impulsivity with respect to behaviors and beliefs might be explained by the low accessibility of gambling venues for the student population. We compare the present findings with past studies examining gambling behaviors in adult populations.
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Metadata
Title
Personality, Gender, and Family History in the Prediction of College Gambling
Authors
Serena M. King
Kenneth Abrams
Todd Wilkinson
Publication date
01-09-2010
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Gambling Studies / Issue 3/2010
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3602
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-009-9163-7

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