Content area
Abstract
The current quantitative study examined mean impulsivity factor score differences between dysfunctional and nondysfunctional gambling populations. One-hundred twenty-six West Virginia research participants completed a self-report survey that measured participant gambling behavior, attentional impulsivity, motoric impulsivity, and nonplanning impulsivity. Sixty-three dysfunctional gambling group participants were recruited through Gamblers Anonymous and were currently receiving Gamblers Anonymous gambling treatment support services. Sixty-three nondysfunctional gambling group participants consisted of business patrons recruited from two, different, public business office waiting rooms where the research survey was publicly available for anyone to voluntarily complete. Independent-samples t tests revealed significant (p < .001) differences in that participants of the dysfunctional gambling group reported higher impulsivity measures of all three factors of impulsivity than nondysfunctional gambling group participants. Statistical analysis also revealed nonplanning impulsivity was the most significantly elevated factor between the two research groups. The study used cognitive and behavioral models of psychological theory and the medical model of biological theory to explain elevated impulsivity factor measurement differences between the two research groups. Accurate information regarding this controversial form of social entertainment, and its individual influence, is required to develop effective gambling assessment methods and treatment strategies. Direct implications for social change are increased social awareness of dysfunctional gambling prevalence and support for more accurate gambling assessment tools.
