title: Induced mood and persistence at gaming.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Using the affect infusion model (AIM), this study aimed to assess the impact of prior mood on gaming persistence in regular and non-regular gamblers (assumed to be motivated and heuristic decision-makers, respectively). DESIGN, MEASURES AND SETTING: A 2 x 3 experimental design in a laboratory setting employed factors of gambler type (regular, non-regular) and prior mood (happy, neutral, depressed). Measures were number of trials played on a gambling game, and mood ratings (post-mood induction, during and after play).
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty regular and 60 non-regular gamblers (all male students) were assigned randomly to watch a video inducing one of the three mood conditions. They were then given AUD$10.00 to gamble in a computerized card-cutting game.
  
  
  RESULTS
  AIM predictions were supported: prior mood did not affect gaming persistence for regular gamblers, but non-regulars showed reduced persistence across happy, neutral and depressed moods. After-play mood ratings were related to winnings for regulars, and losing regulars were significantly more unhappy after-play compared to during-play, and compared to both their winning counterparts and non-regulars. Mood and winnings were unrelated for non-regulars, with little during- to after-play mood change.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings speak to depression as a causal factor in addictive gambling. Depressed mood did not enhance persistence in regular gamblers, but rather failed to have the inhibitory effect observed in non-regular gamblers. Evidence of mood changes during gambling was obtained, although multiple measures (self-report, physiological indicators, anticipated states) of both affective valence and arousal are advocated for future studies.
authors.affiliation: University of Western Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. am.hills@uws.edu.au
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Hills
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mamone
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dickerson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005715:Gambling / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation