Impulsivity predicts problem gambling in low SES adolescent males

Aims. This study investigated whether impulsivity measured in 12-14-year-ol ds could predict problem gambling in late adolescence, above and beyond oth er personality factors such as aggressiveness and anxiety. Design. A prospe ctive-longitudinal design was used, thus overcoming limitations of past stu dies which used concurrent or retrospective designs. Participants and measu rements. The sample included 154 boys living in economically deprived neigh borhoods. Impulsivity measures comprised self-reports, teacher ratings and laboratory tasks, and were administered during early adolescence. Gambling behavior was assessed at age 17 using a self-repent measure. Early gambling behavior and socio-demographic information were also collected for control purposes. Findings. Results revealed that a self-report measure of impulsi veness and a card-sorting task significantly predicted problem gambling, ev en after controlling for socio-demographic variables, early gambling behavi or and other personality variables such as aggressiveness and anxiety. More over, the predictive link held across an levels of aggressiveness and anxie ty. Both impulsivity measures seemed to tap an inability to foresee negativ e consequences and an inability to stop responding despite unfavorable cont ingencies. Conclusion. These findings suggest that disinhibited individuals with response modulation deficits are at risk for problem gambling, thus s upporting the DSM-IV classification of pathological gambling as an impulse central deficit.