Trait Mindfulness, Problem-Gambling Severity, Altered State of Awareness and Urge to Gamble in Poker-Machine Gamblers

Overview

Journal J Gambl Stud

Date 2016 Sep 14

PMID 27619216

Citations 5

Authors

Charles F A McKeith

Adam J Rock

Gavin I Clark

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

In Australia, poker-machine gamblers represent a disproportionate number of problem gamblers. To cultivate a greater understanding of the psychological mechanisms involved in poker-machine gambling, a repeated measures cue-reactivity protocol was administered. A community sample of 38 poker-machine gamblers was assessed for problem-gambling severity and trait mindfulness. Participants were also assessed regarding altered state of awareness (ASA) and urge to gamble at baseline, following a neutral cue, and following a gambling cue. Results indicated that: (a) urge to gamble significantly increased from neutral cue to gambling cue, while controlling for baseline urge; (b) cue-reactive ASA did not significantly mediate the relationship between problem-gambling severity and cue-reactive urge (from neutral cue to gambling cue); (c) trait mindfulness was significantly negatively associated with both problem-gambling severity and cue-reactive urge (i.e., from neutral cue to gambling cue, while controlling for baseline urge); and (d) trait mindfulness did not significantly moderate the effect of problem-gambling severity on cue-reactive urge (from neutral cue to gambling cue). This is the first study to demonstrate a negative association between trait mindfulness and cue-reactive urge to gamble in a population of poker-machine gamblers. Thus, this association merits further evaluation both in relation to poker-machine gambling and other gambling modalities.

Citing Articles

Cue-Reactive Phenomenology Mediates the Relationship Between Positive Schizotypy and Cue-Reactive Urge to Gamble in Poker-Machine Gamblers.

McTigue B, Talk A, Rice K, Rock A J Gambl Stud. 2024; 40(3):1499-1516.

PMID: 38724823 PMC: 11390803. DOI: 10.1007/s10899-024-10310-w.

A comparison of fraud to fund gambling with fraud for other reasons.

Dougherty E, Staples L, McLean L, Machart T, Westmore B, Nielssen O Psychiatr Psychol Law. 2022; 28(3):408-417.

PMID: 35530123 PMC: 9068002. DOI: 10.1080/13218719.2020.1780644.

Proximal and Distal Risk Factors for Gambling Problems Specifically Associated with Electronic Gaming Machines.

Hing N, Russell A J Gambl Stud. 2019; 36(1):277-295.

PMID: 31172326 DOI: 10.1007/s10899-019-09867-8.

The impact of affect labelling on responses to aversive flying-cues.

Azoum M, Clark G, Rock A PLoS One. 2018; 13(4):e0194519.

PMID: 29672519 PMC: 5908089. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0194519.

Cue-Reactive Rationality, Visual Imagery and Volitional Control Predict Cue-Reactive Urge to Gamble in Poker-Machine Gamblers.

Clark G, Rock A, McKeith C, Coventry W J Gambl Stud. 2016; 33(3):807-823.

PMID: 27804002 DOI: 10.1007/s10899-016-9650-6.

References

Brown K, Ryan R . The benefits of being present: mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. J Pers Soc Psychol. 2003; 84(4):822-48. DOI: 10.1037/0022-3514.84.4.822. View

Gainsbury S, Blankers M, Wilkinson C, Schelleman-Offermans K, Cousijn J . Recommendations for international gambling harm-minimisation guidelines: comparison with effective public health policy. J Gambl Stud. 2013; 30(4):771-88. DOI: 10.1007/s10899-013-9389-2. View

Wulfert E, Maxson J, Jardin B . Cue-specific reactivity in experienced gamblers. Psychol Addict Behav. 2009; 23(4):731-5. PMC: 2804265. DOI: 10.1037/a0017134. View

Tellegen A, Atkinson G . Openness to absorbing and self-altering experiences ("absorption"), a trait related to hypnotic susceptibility. J Abnorm Psychol. 1974; 83(3):268-77. DOI: 10.1037/h0036681. View

Rohsenow D, Monti P . Does urge to drink predict relapse after treatment?. Alcohol Res Health. 2000; 23(3):225-32. PMC: 6760369. View

Raylu N, Oei T . The gambling urge scale: development, confirmatory factor validation, and psychometric properties. Psychol Addict Behav. 2004; 18(2):100-5. DOI: 10.1037/0893-164X.18.2.100. View

Joukhador J, Maccallum F, Blaszczynski A . Differences in cognitive distortions between problem and social gamblers. Psychol Rep. 2003; 92(3 Pt 2):1203-14. DOI: 10.2466/pr0.2003.92.3c.1203. View

Sodano R, Wulfert E . Cue reactivity in active pathological, abstinent pathological, and regular gamblers. J Gambl Stud. 2009; 26(1):53-65. PMC: 2822908. DOI: 10.1007/s10899-009-9146-8. View

Rohsenow D, Niaura R . Reflections on the state of cue-reactivity theories and research [see comment]. Addiction. 1999; 94(3):343-4. View

10.

Tricker C, Rock A, Clark G . Cue-Reactive Altered State of Consciousness Mediates the Relationship Between Problem-Gambling Severity and Cue-Reactive Urge in Poker-Machine Gamblers. J Gambl Stud. 2015; 32(2):661-74. DOI: 10.1007/s10899-015-9549-7. View

11.

Shonin E, Van Gordon W, Griffiths M . Buddhist philosophy for the treatment of problem gambling. J Behav Addict. 2015; 2(2):63-71. DOI: 10.1556/JBA.2.2013.001. View

12.

Weinstein M, Smith J . Isometric squeeze relaxation (progressive relaxation) vs meditation: absorption and focusing as predictors of state effects. Percept Mot Skills. 1992; 75(3 Pt 2):1263-71. DOI: 10.2466/pms.1992.75.3f.1263. View

13.

Baer R, Smith G, Hopkins J, Krietemeyer J, Toney L . Using self-report assessment methods to explore facets of mindfulness. Assessment. 2006; 13(1):27-45. DOI: 10.1177/1073191105283504. View

14.

Bullis J, Boe H, Asnaani A, Hofmann S . The benefits of being mindful: trait mindfulness predicts less stress reactivity to suppression. J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry. 2013; 45(1):57-66. DOI: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2013.07.006. View

15.

Baudinet J, Blaszczynski A . Arousal and gambling mode preference: a review of the literature. J Gambl Stud. 2012; 29(2):343-58. DOI: 10.1007/s10899-012-9304-2. View

16.

Oakes J, Battersby M, Pols R, Cromarty P . Exposure therapy for problem gambling via Videoconferencing: a case report. J Gambl Stud. 2007; 24(1):107-18. DOI: 10.1007/s10899-007-9074-4. View

17.

Kushner M, Abrams K, Donahue C, Thuras P, Frost R, Kim S . Urge to gamble in problem gamblers exposed to a casino environment. J Gambl Stud. 2007; 23(2):121-32. DOI: 10.1007/s10899-006-9050-4. View

18.

Pekala R, Wenger C, Levine R . Individual differences in phenomenological experience: states of consciousness as a function of absorption. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1985; 48(1):125-32. DOI: 10.1037//0022-3514.48.1.125. View

19.

Petry N . A comparison of treatment-seeking pathological gamblers based on preferred gambling activity. Addiction. 2003; 98(5):645-55. DOI: 10.1046/j.1360-0443.2003.00336.x. View

20.

McCormick J, Delfabbro P, Denson L . Psychological vulnerability and problem gambling: an application of Durand Jacobs' general theory of addictions to electronic gaming machine playing in Australia. J Gambl Stud. 2011; 28(4):665-90. DOI: 10.1007/s10899-011-9281-x. View