A Multidimensional Approach to Measuring How Impulsivity Corresponds to the Gambling of College Students

Impulsivity has been implicated as a contributing factor in the development of gambling problems among college students, but attempts to confirm this relation has been inconsistent. An explanation for incongruous findings is that impulsivity may be multidimensional and differentially predictive of behaviors. Utilizing a diverse sample of college students, a factor analysis of self-report measures of impulsivity revealed a three-factor structure of Behavioral Activation, Preference for Stimulation, and Inhibition Control that was remarkably similar to the structure found by Meda and colleagues (2009). Low risk and symptomatic gamblers scored significantly lower on Behavioral Activation and Inhibition Control than non-gamblers. Conversely, low risk and symptomatic gamblers scored significantly higher on Preference for Stimulation. Prevalence of gambling and gambling activity preference for this sample was also assessed