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Associations of the Big Five and locus of control with problem gambling in a large Australian sample

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  • Juliane M von der Heiden
  • Boris Egloff

Abstract

Gambling may range from being a recreational leisure activity to a behavioral addiction. A rising number of gamblers experience adverse consequences from gambling, termed problem gambling, which may become a challenge for the individual and society. With the present research, we aimed to investigate the correlates of problem gambling. We used a large sample of more than 12,500 individuals (46% male, Mage = 48, SDage = 18) from the Household, Income, and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey and analyzed sociodemographic and personality variables (Big Five, locus of control) as well as the extent of problem gambling. Findings showed that male sex and a lower level of education were related to problem gambling, but personality traits were predictive of problem gambling over and above sociodemographic variables. Specifically, a low level of emotional stability, an external locus of control, and, to a lesser extent, a low level of conscientiousness and a high level of extraversion were predictive of problem gambling, whereas openness and agreeableness were not. These results remained constant across various robustness analyses. Our findings reveal the importance of including personality traits when explaining gambling behavior.

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  • Juliane M von der Heiden & Boris Egloff, 2021. "Associations of the Big Five and locus of control with problem gambling in a large Australian sample," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(6), pages 1-12, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0253046
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0253046
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    1. Paul Delfabbro, 2013. "Problem And Pathological Gambling: A Conceptual Review," Journal of Gambling Business and Economics, University of Buckingham Press, vol. 7(3), pages 35-53.
    2. Mark Wooden & Simon Freidin & Nicole Watson, 2002. "The Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA)Survey: Wave 1," Australian Economic Review, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, vol. 35(3), pages 339-348, September.
    3. Jule Specht & Boris Egloff & Stefan C. Schmukle, 2011. "Stability and Change of Personality across the Life Course: The Impact of Age and Major Life Events on Mean-Level and Rank-Order Stability of the Big Five," SOEPpapers on Multidisciplinary Panel Data Research 377, DIW Berlin, The German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP).
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