• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.589-598
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine risk factors for pathological gambling of horse race participants. Methods: The participants, 508 horse race gamblers, completed the DSM-IV criteria of pathological gambling, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT-K) and Symptom Checklist-47-Revision (SCL-47-R). Data were analyzed using t-test, $x^2$-test, Fisher's exact test, and logistic regression analyses. Behaviors related to horse racing, alcohol abuse, and mental health were analyzed between problem or pathological gamblers compared to recreational gamblers. Results: The prevalence rates of recreational, problem, and pathological gambling were 36.6%, 39.4%, and 24.0%, respectively. Frequency of gambling (${\geq}4/day$), frequency of racetrack visiting (${\geq}3/month$), accompaniment (alone), and mental health (SCL-47-R scores) were all associated with increased risks of problem and pathological gambling. Expenditure on betting (${\geq}200,000$ won/day) and alcohol abuse (AUDIT-K 8-20 scores) group members had higher levels of gambling pathology than recreational gamblers. Conclusion: Problem and pathological gambling are highly associated with alcohol abuse and mental health disorders, suggesting that clinicians should carefully evaluate this population.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.86-93
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• 2006

Depression, anxiety and stress are important components of theories of pathological gambling and are often foci of treatment with patients with gambling problems. In the present review we attempt to examine the relationship between anxiety, depression, stress and pathological gambling. Although the previous studies on this subject are limited and the relationship is unclear and complex, our review on the previous studies and clinical experiences on this subject could offer new insights for the assessment and treatment of pathological gamblers.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.195-207
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to develop and test a model for predicting problem gambling in speculative game users based on Blaszczynski and Nower's pathways model of problem and pathological gambling. Methods: The participants were 262 speculative game users recruited from seven speculative gambling places located in Seoul, Gangwon, and Gyeonggi, Korea. They completed a structured self-report questionnaire comprising measures of problem gambling, negative emotions, attentional impulsivity, motor impulsivity, non-planning impulsivity, gambler's fallacy, and gambling self-efficacy. Structural Equation Modeling was used to test the hypothesized model and to examine the direct and indirect effects on problem gambling in speculative game users using SPSS 22.0 and AMOS 20.0 programs. Results: The hypothetical research model provided a reasonable fit to the data. Negative emotions, motor impulsivity, gambler's fallacy, and gambling self-efficacy had direct effects on problem gambling in speculative game users, while indirect effects were reported for negative emotions, motor impulsivity, and gambler's fallacy. These predictors explained 75.2% problem gambling in speculative game users. Conclusion: The findings suggest that developing intervention programs to reduce negative emotions, motor impulsivity, and gambler's fallacy, and to increase gambling self-efficacy in speculative game users are needed to prevent their problem gambling.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.177-203
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• 2015

The aims of this study were 1) to compare irrational gambling beliefs of gamblers and non-gamblers, 2) to investigate the role of cognitive error on winning probability thinking error, and 3) to examine the relationship between attributional bias and gambling behavior. A total of 248 subjects were recruited for this study. All subjects were classified into non-gamblers, social gamblers and pathological gamblers, and administered self-report questionnaires to measure irrational gambling beliefs, the probability inference error, the attriburional style, and the attributional bias. A pathological gambler group scored highest on irrational gambling beliefs, especially the overestimation of self-ability factor, and a social gambler group and a non-gambler group follow. All three groups scored higher on the magnification of gambling skills than the mean (4.0) of the scale. Pathological gamblers and social gamblers scored higher on the probability thinking error than non-gamblers. Pathological gamblers displayed higher external attribution, lower internal attribution in their daily life events and higher internal attribution in failure situation than social gamblers and non-gamblers. The results indicate that cognitive errors would be a factor that differentiates pathological gamblers from social gamblers and non-gamblers. In predicting gambling behaviors, overestimation of self-ability of irrational gambling beliefs, internal attribution in failure situation, external attribution in daily live event, and probability thinking error were identified as significant factors. It is concluded that a public education about common cognitive bias featured in gamblers might be important in prevention of pathological gambling behaviors.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.54
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• pp.177-201
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• 2003

Gambling is prevailing in our society and the family problems of gamblers are also serious. In order to reduce the problems of gamblers and their families, the basic research on gambling would be the first step. In light of this, this study is a survey which has two objectives: to grasp the overall conditions of gambling and the proportion of pathological gamblers; to find the differences between the pathological gamblers' group and the general group in terms of various aspects of family relations in Choongchung area. The findings of this study is as follows, The respondents tend to gamble most with korean playing cards, either in winter or regardless of seasons. They tend to gamble most with family members, relatives, or friends. About 20% of them gamble more often than once a month, and 60% started gambling in their twenties or thirties. The proportion of pathological gamblers was found to be 11.6% of the sample of this study, with men and rural area residents to be significantly more than women and urban area residents. In the various aspects of family lives, such as marital satisfaction, family relations, family violence, family history of addiction, how to spend leisure time with family, it was found that the pathological gamblers' group has significantly more problems than the general group. On the basis of the above findings, the suggestions were made as follows. Firstly, the counter plan to gambling is necessary in the rural area, especially in winter time. secondly, positive leisure activities which substitute gambling needs to be developed, especially for men. Thirdly, family education and family therapy Program is required for the pathological gamblers and their families. Fourthly, governmental policy is necessary for the budget to prevent and treat gambling problems.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.97-107
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• 2018

Purpose: A mediated model of Korean college students' problem gambling based on Blaszczynski and Nower's pathway model is developed and tested to explore mediating roles of self-control and irrational gambling beliefs in the association between emotionally vulnerable variables and problem gambling. Methods: 273 student participants recruited from 4 universities in Seoul and Gyeonggi, Korea responded. Data were collected with a structured self-report questionnaire comprising measures of problem gambling, depression, anxiety, coping styles, irrational gambling belief, and self-control. Results: The modified research model provides a reasonable fit to the data. Depression, anxiety, reflective coping, irrational beliefs, and self-control turned out to have direct effects on problem gambling, while indirect effects were reported in some suppressive and reactive styles. These predictors account for 38% of the college students' problem gambling. Conclusion: The findings suggest that developing intervention programs for reducing depression, anxiety, irrational gambling beliefs, and increasing reflective coping and self-control are needed to prevent Korean college students'problem gambling.

• Korean Journal of Health Psychology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.1-26
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• 2009

This paper deals with fundamental questions how we should understand and approach the gambling addiction problems optimally. We attempted to define the nature of gambling behaviors first and to understand gambling addiction as an extreme class of behaviors on a behavioral continuum. This frame of reference would allow researchers to diagnose, classify, and evaluate gambling problems clearly, and to estimate prevalence rate and incidence rate more accurately from a perspective of behavioral sciences. Also, we emphasized to get out of a dichotomy in classifying gambling behaviors(i.e., either pathological or non-pathological). In addition, we introduced multi-agent and multi-level approaches to understanding gambling problems. With these approaches, each of the agents pertinent to the gambling problems can take its own responsibility and collaborate with other agents to solve the problems together. Also it is a proper time to develop a new scale overcoming the limitations of existing scales. So we presented several cautions in developing new scales for evaluating gambling problems. Lastly, in building a gambling policy, the estimation of prevalence and incidence rate is an important issue. So we suggested various ways for accurate estimation of prevalence and incidence rates reflecting the nature of gambling problems.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.190-197
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• 2009

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to examine structural abnormalities of brain in patients with pathological gambling(PG) using voxel-based morphometry. Methods : We compared gray matter(GM) volumes between 10 patients with PG and 14 age- and IQ-matched healthy controls and examined the relationship of GM volumes with clinical variables in patients with PG. Results : We found significant increase of GM volume in the superior, middle, and inferior frontal gyri, the midbrain, the middle temporal gyrus, the precuneus, and the fusiform gyrus of patients with PG. A significant decrease of GM volume was observed in the parahippocampal gyrus and the lingual gyrus of the patient group. In addition, GM volumes in some of these regions were positively associated with South Oaks Gambling Screen score and negatively with age of onset in patients with PG. Conclusion : Current findings indicate that structural abnormalities in the fronto-temporal cortex, the midbrain, and the precuneus might be involved in the pathophysiology of PG, and contribute to some of the behavioral changes observed in patients with PG.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.119-125
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• 2011

Objective It has been suggested that the dopamine D2 receptor gene (DRD2) is associated with pathological gambling (PG). We investigated the association of the DRD2 Taq1A polymorphism and the temperament in PG using Cloninger's temperament and characteristic inventory (TCI). Methods 104 PG patients and 114 control subjects were recruited. Tests for DRD2 Taq1A polymorphism were conducted in both PG patients and controls. PG patients were requested to complete the TCI. Results There were no significant differences in frequencies of the genotype (${\chi}^2$ = 0.77, p = 0.681), allele (${\chi}^2$ = 0.52, p = 0.469), and allele (A1) carrier (${\chi}^2$ = 0.15, p = 0.695) between the PG patients and the control group. When we compared the TCI profile in the PG patients according to genotypes, there were significant differences in harm-avoidance (HA, p = 0.033), and self-directedness (SD, p = 0.012) among genotypes. These difference were more evident between A1 allele carriers and non-carriers (HA, p = 0.009 and SD, p = 0.004). Conclusion Present results suggest Taq1A polymorphism may not play an important role in the susceptibility to pathological gambling in our population. However, Taq1A polymorphism might be associated with some temperament in Korean PG patients.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.67-82
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to explore whether or not the increased availability of legalized gambling leads to increase in the prevalence of gambling-related problems, and the relationship between gambling behaviors and gambling-related problems and residents' perceptions of their own satisfaction with life among the residents who live at the location of casinos. Three casino communities, designated by a special law as run-down mining areas, were chosen for the survey research. One community consisted of two towns, Kohan and Sabuk in Chongsun county at which the casino is located. The other communities were Taeback city and other rural areas in Chongsun county. 559 samples from three communities completed self-administered questionnaires(gambling behavior participation, K-NODS, perceived impacts coward casino development, and scales of the satisfaction with life). Results were as follows; it was found that there was a positive relationship between gambling behaviors and gambling-related problems, and a negative relationship between gambling-related problems and the satisfaction with life. While residents who live Kohan and Sabuk community were likely to perceive negative impacts of the casino development, the residents in Taeback city were likely to perceive the casino development positively. It was found that the increased casino accessibility led co the increase in the gambling problems; the prevalence rates of pathological gambling in Kohan and Sabuk community were higher than both in Taebak city and in more rural areas in Chongsun county. The nagative impacts of legalized casino industry on community where the casino located were discussed.