Trait Mindfulness, Problem-Gambling Severity, Altered State of Awareness and Urge to Gamble in Poker-Machine Gamblers.
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.
School of Behavioural, Cognitive, and Social Sciences, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, 2350, Australia.
Charles F A
CFA
McKeith
School of Behavioural, Cognitive, and Social Sciences, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, 2350, Australia. arock@une.edu.au.
Adam J
AJ
Rock
School of Behavioural, Cognitive, and Social Sciences, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, 2350, Australia.
Gavin I
GI
Clark
D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D001364:Awareness; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000523:psychology*; D003463:Cues; D005260:Female; D005715:Gambling / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D064866:Mindfulness; D010551:Personality; D055815:Young Adult
Altered state of awareness; Gambling cue-reactivity; Poker-machines; Slot-machines; Trait mindfulness; Urge