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An Exploratory Study of Relationships Among Five-Factor Personality Measures and Forms of Gambling in Adults With and Without Probable Pathological Gambling

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Abstract

The present study explored relationships between personality domains and gambling forms in individuals with and without probable pathological gambling (PPG). Associations among personality domain scores obtained from the NEO Personality Inventory-Revised, endorsements of gambling activities on the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS), and PPG as determined by the SOGS were examined with bivariate and logistic regression analyses. Compared to recreational gamblers, those with PPG scored significantly higher in neuroticism and lower in agreeableness and conscientiousness. Agreeableness was inversely associated with gambling on cards, sports, bingo, stock market, dice, and skill games. Conscientiousness was inversely associated with gambling on sports and animal racing. Extraversion was positively associated with gambling on cards, dice, and stocks. Neuroticism and openness were positively associated with gambling on animal racing and stock gambling, respectively. Significant interactions indicated stronger inverse associations between agreeableness and gambling in casinos, on sports, and on skill games and stronger positive associations between openness and gambling on stocks and skill games in individuals with PPG compared to those without. The results suggest different relationships between personality domain measures and specific forms of gambling in individuals with and without PPG. Future research efforts should examine how personality factors may be used to enhance policy, prevention, and treatment efforts.

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Funding

This work was supported by NIDA (R01 DA019039, RL1 AA017539), the VA VISN1 MIRECC, the National Center for Responsible Gambling (Center of Excellence Grant), the Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling and the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.

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Author notes

  1. Seth W. Whiting

    Present address: Department of Psychology, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, MI, 48859, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Veterans Affairs, VISN 1 Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), West Haven, CT, USA

    Seth W. Whiting & Rani A. Hoff

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, Room 726, 1 Church St., New Haven, CT, 06510, USA

    Seth W. Whiting, Rani A. Hoff, Iris M. Balodis & Marc N. Potenza

  3. Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA

    Marc N. Potenza

  4. Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA

    Marc N. Potenza

  5. Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling, Wethersfield, CT, USA

    Marc N. Potenza

Authors
  1. Seth W. Whiting
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  2. Rani A. Hoff
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  4. Marc N. Potenza
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marc N. Potenza.

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Conflict of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interests with respect to the content of this manuscript. Dr. Potenza has received financial support or compensation for the following. Dr. Potenza has consulted for Shire, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Opiant/Lightlake Pharmaceuticals, and RiverMend Health; has received research support from Mohegan Sun Casino and the National Center for Responsible Gaming; has participated in surveys, mailings or telephone consultations related to addictions, impulse control disorders or other health topics; has consulted for or advised law offices and gambling entities on issues related to impulse control disorders; has provided clinical care in the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services Problem Gambling Services Program; has performed grant reviews for the National Institutes of Health and other agencies; has edited journals or journal sections; has given academic lectures in grand rounds, CME events and other clinical or scientific venues; and has generated books or book chapters for publishers of mental health texts.

Informed Consent

The study was approved by the Human Investigation Committee of the Yale University School of Medicine. All subjects provided written informed consent prior to participating in the study.

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Whiting, S.W., Hoff, R.A., Balodis, I.M. et al. An Exploratory Study of Relationships Among Five-Factor Personality Measures and Forms of Gambling in Adults With and Without Probable Pathological Gambling. J Gambl Stud 35, 915–928 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-018-9809-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-018-9809-4

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