Student problem gambling – the role of motivation, cognitive distortions and self-control

U ovom istraživanju bavili smo se ispitivanjem nekih čimbenika rizičnosti kockanja na studentskoj populaciji. Kockanje je postalo modernom ovisnosti koja se sve više i više širi. Cilj ovog istraživanja je bio ispitati povezanost specifičnih motivacija za kockanjem, kognitivnih distorzija (iluzije kontrole i netočnog poimanja vjerojatnosti) i samokontrole te problema povezanih s kockarskim aktivnostima kod studenata. Istraživanje je provedeno na 368 studenata (M=22.09 god), od kojih je 106 žena i 262 muškarca.Sudionici su ispunili sociodemografski upitnik, upitnik o rizičnosti kockanja (CAGI), skalu motivacije za kockanjem, skalu izraženosti kognitivnih distorzija i skalu samokontrole. Rezultati su pokazali da 25% sudionika ima visoku ozbiljnost problema povezanih s kockanjem, 28.2% ima nisku do srednju ozbiljnost, a 46.7% nema problema povezanih s kockanjem. Najčešćom kockarskom aktivnosti su se pokazale sportske kladionice. Hijerarhijskom analizom smo dobili rezultate koji ukazuju na to da rizičniji kockari imaju veću intrinzičnu, ekstrinzičnu i amotivaciju za kockanjem, izraženije netočno poimanje vjerojatnosti i nižu samokontrolu. Iluzija kontrole se nije pokazala kao značajan prediktor. Osim toga, muškarci kockaju više i rizičnije od žena. Dobiveni rezultati ukazuju na to da u studentskoj populaciji ima značajan broj rizičnih kockara te iz ovih rezultata možemo izvući implikacije za daljnja istraživanja i osmišljavanje prevencijskih programa.This study aimed to examine some characteristics of problem gambling in students. Gambling has become a modern addiction and is spreading more than ever. The aim of this research was to examine the connection between specific gambling motivation, cognitive distortions (illusion of control and superstition and incorrect understanding of chances and probability) and self-control and student problem gambling. The data was collected on a sample of 368 students (Mage=22.09), 106 women and 262 men. Students filled out a socio-demographicquestionnaire, a measure of risky gambling behaviour (CAGI), motivation toward gambling scale, cognitive distortions scale and self-control scale. The results show that 25% of the participants are problem gamblers, 28.2% are at risk of becoming problem gamblers and 46.7% have no problem with gambling. The most common gambling activity is sports betting. Hierarchical regression model showed that risky gamblers have higher intrinsic, extrinsic and amotivation toward gambling, higher superstition and incorrect understanding of chances and probability and less self-control. Illusion of controle was not a significant predictor. Findings show that there is a significant amount of problem gamblers in student population and can help us with future research and in making prevention programs