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Alexithymia predicts loss chasing for people at risk for problem gambling

Bibby, Peter A.; Ross, Katherine E.

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Authors

Peter A. Bibby

Katherine E. Ross



Abstract

Background and aims

The aim of this research was to investigate the relationship between alexithymia and loss-chasing behavior in people at risk and not at risk for problem gambling.
Methods

An opportunity sample of 58 (50 males and 8 females) participants completed the Problem Gambling Severity Index and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). They then completed the Cambridge Gambling Task from which a measure of loss-chasing behavior was derived.
Results

Alexithymia and problem gambling risk were significantly positively correlated. Subgroups of non-alexithymic and at or near caseness for alexithymia by low risk and at risk for problem gambling were identified. The results show a clear difference for loss-chasing behavior for the two alexithymia conditions, but there was no evidence that low and at-risk problem gamblers were more likely to loss chase. The emotion-processing components of the TAS-20 were shown to correlate with loss chasing.
Discussion and conclusion

These findings suggest that loss-chasing behavior may be particularly prevalent in a subgroup of problem gamblers those who are high in alexithymia.

Citation

Bibby, P. A., & Ross, K. E. (in press). Alexithymia predicts loss chasing for people at risk for problem gambling. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 6(4), https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.6.2017.076

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Oct 22, 2017
Online Publication Date Nov 9, 2017
Deposit Date Nov 20, 2017
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Journal of Behavioral Addictions
Print ISSN 2062-5871
Electronic ISSN 2063-5303
Publisher Akadémiai Kiadó
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 6
Issue 4
DOI https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.6.2017.076
Keywords alexithymia, problem gambling, loss chasing
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/893819
Publisher URL http://akademiai.com/doi/10.1556/2006.6.2017.076

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