The role of time perspective on problem gambling in adolescence

Transcription

1 The role of time perspective on problem gambling in adolescence Caterina Primi Francesca Chiesi & Maria Anna Donati University of Florence EASG - Lisbon 2016

2 Time Perspective Time perspective (TP) can be defined as a personal experience of time. TP represents an individual s cognitive way of relating to the psychological concepts of past, present and future. TP has an impact on motivation, cognition, and emotion and it is linked to goal selection (Garstensen, 2006). TP affects decision making and subsequent actions (Boniwell, 2005).

3 Time Perspective TP has a powerful influence on many aspects of attitudes, values, and behavior: Referring to health and risk-taking: Present-oriented individuals are less concerned by the potential future risks linked to healthcompromising behaviors. Future-oriented individuals are more likely to consider long-term negative consequences (perceived as risks).

4 Time Perspective (Zimbardo & Boyd,1999) Past-Positive (PP): Nostalgic, positive construction of the past. Past-Negative (PN): Aversive attitude towards the past. Present-Hedonistic (PH): Inclination to form goals and adopt behaviors that meet immediate desires and pleasure-oriented goals. Present-Fatalistic (PF): Belief that the outcome of events is beyond personal control and is predetermined by external forces, like fate and predestination. Future orientation (F): Tendency to abstain from immediate pleasure in order to obtain long-term rewards.

5 TP & Adolescents Past orientation has demonstrated little explanatory capability in health related research. However, unfavorable attitudes toward the past are associated with problematic behavior. Present hedonistic and fatalistic were positively related to risky behaviors (such as unsafe health habits, crime, addictions, dangerous driving, and sexual promiscuity). Future orientation was positively related to health protective behaviors (such as condom use, exercise, and healthy eating) and negatively related to addiction problems.

6 Aims To investigate the relationship between time perspective and gambling in adolescents taking into account: all the five Zimbardo s time perspectives gambling frequency gambling problem severity

7 Participants Participants were 223 adolescents all males (mean age = years, SD = 1.5, range 14-21) attending high school in Tuscany (Italy) Year f(%) Mage SD 1 45(20) (18) (21) (21) (20)

8 Measures & Procedure Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (ZTPI, Zimbardo & Boyd, 1999) PN ( I think about the bad things that have happened to me in the past ) PP ( On balance, there is much more good to recall than bad in my past ) PH ( I often follow my heart more than my head ) PF ( My life path is controlled by forces I can-not influence ) F ( I complete projects on time by making steady progress ) South Oaks Gambling Screen Revised for Adolescents (SOGS-RA; Winters, Stinchfield, & Fulkerson, 1993)

9 Results Gambling Behavior & Activities Gambling Behavior Gambling Activities (%) CARDS 44 Non- Gamblers 15% COIN TOSSES 27 SPORT BETS 53 BETS ON ANIMALS 6 BINGO 16 DICE GAMES 6 Gamblers 85% SLOT MACHINES 21 ISTANT SCRATCH-CARDS 64 LOTTERIES 35 ON-LINE GAMES 14

10 Results Gambling & Time Perspective Gambling Gambling Problem Frequency Severity PN.06.19* PP PH.29***.17* PF.32***.24** F * * p <.05; ** p <.01; *** p <.001

11 Results Gambling Frequency & Time Perspettive B t p PN PP PH PF F F(5,216)=7.72, p<.001; R=.39; R 2 =.15

12 Results Gambling Severity & Time Perspectives B t p PN PP PH PF F F(5,182)=4.301,p<.01; R=.33; R 2 =.10

13 Discussion Gambling frequency is predicted by the present time perspective dimensions Adolescents who gambling frequently have a time perspective that can be related to the recreational (Hedonistic) and chance (Fatalistic) components of gambling. Gambling problem severity is predicted by a fatalistic perception of the present and negative orientation to the future. Adolescents problem gamblers belief in fate and predestination and are less concerned by the potential consequences of their behaviors and less likely to consider long-term risky effects.

14 Conclusion Preventive interventions with adolescents focusing on time perspective should aim: to reduce fatalism in the present (e.g., reasoning about chance events, fostering critical reasoning) to foster future-oriented perspective (e.g., modifying irrational ideas about the future; identifying the connections between the past, the present, and the future; imaging themselves in the future).

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16 Results Gambling Frequency Gambling Problem Severity 6% 35% 65% Non-Regular Gamblers Regular Gamblers 73% 21% Problem Gamblers At-risk Gamblers Non-problem Gamblers