Alexithymia predicts loss chasing for people at risk for problem gambling Cover Image

Alexithymia predicts loss chasing for people at risk for problem gambling
Alexithymia predicts loss chasing for people at risk for problem gambling

Author(s): Peter A. Bibby, Katherine E. Ross
Subject(s): Behaviorism, Substance abuse and addiction
Published by: Akadémiai Kiadó
Keywords: alexithymia; problem gambling; loss chasing;

Summary/Abstract: 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.

  • Issue Year: 6/2017
  • Issue No: 4
  • Page Range: 630-638
  • Page Count: 9
  • Language: English