Mediating Role of Impulsivity in the Contributory Roles of Upward Versus Downward Counterfactual Thinking in Youth Gambling Intention - PubMed (original) (raw)

Mediating Role of Impulsivity in the Contributory Roles of Upward Versus Downward Counterfactual Thinking in Youth Gambling Intention

Larry O Awo et al. J Gambl Stud. 2023 Mar.

Abstract

The proliferation of gambling shops, and the growing gambling prevalence in Nigeria, youths have constantly engaged in gambling activities even during school period. This has raised concerns among therapists and parents as the trend could degenerate to problem gambling and its associated psychosocial problems if left unchecked. Our study examined the role of impulsivity as a mediator in the association between two types of counterfactual thinking (CFT) and gambling intention in a non-clinical sample. A self-report measure containing South Oaks Gambling Screen: Reversed for Adolescents (SOGS: RA), CFT, and impulsivity scales was completed by 371 Nigerian adolescents who had gambled for money (mean age = 17.37 years; SD = 4.13). After controlling for age, increase in downward CFT was associated with decreased gambling intention, whereas increase in upward CFT and impulsivity were associated with increased gambling intention. Upward CFT contributed more to gambling intention than downward CFT. Mediation result showed that Impulsivity significantly mediated only the association between upward CFT and gambling intention. We concluded that gambling therapies should include treatment packages that enhance impulse control abilities and gambling-related downward CFT and at the same time, attenuate gambling-related upward CFT.

Keywords: Downward counterfactuals; Gambling intention; Impulsivity; Upward Counterfactuals; Youth gambling.

© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

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