title: Executive functioning and gambling: performance on the trail making test is associated with gambling problems in older adult gamblers.
abstract: Rates of gambling problems in older adults have risen with increased accessibility of gambling venues. One possible contributor to problem gambling among older adults is decreased self-control brought about by diminished executive functioning. Consistent with this possibility, Study 1 revealed that older adults recruited from gambling venues reported greater gambling problems if they also experienced deficits in executive functioning, measured via the Trail Making Test. Study 2 replicated this finding and demonstrated that problem gambling is associated with increased depression among older adults, mediated by increased financial distress. These studies provide support for the hypothesis that older adult gamblers who have executive functioning problems are also likely to have gambling problems.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia. billvh@psy.uq.edu.au
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: von Hippel
authors.forename: Lily
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Abbot
authors.forename: Samantha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Caldwell
authors.forename: Georgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.forename: Kym
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Powell
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000150:complications; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D005715:Gambling; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications; D014145:Trail Making Test