Gambling symptoms, behaviors, and cognitive distortions in Japanese university students

Kengo Yokomitsu,Junichiro Kanazawa,Takuhiro Takada,Fumito Takahashi,Jun Tayama,Hirofumi Matsuoka,Tomonari Irie,Yoshihiko Kunisato,Takahito Takahashi,Munenaga Koda,Kaori Osawa,Hirokazu Furukawa,Takanobu Sakai,Mika Himachi

doi:10.1186/s13011-019-0230-5

Abstract

BackgroundThis study was conducted to investigate the relationship between symptoms of gambling problems, gambling behaviours, and cognitive distortions among a university student population in Japan ages 20 to 29 years. We aimed to address the gap in knowledge of gambling disorders and treatment for this population.MethodsData were obtained from 1471 Japanese undergraduate students from 19 universities in Japan. Descriptive statistics and hierarchical multivariate regression analysis were used to investigate whether the factors of gambling cognitive distortions would have predictive effects on gambling disorder symptoms.ResultsResults indicated that 5.1% of the participants are classifiable as probable disordered gamblers. The bias of the gambling type to pachinko and pachislot was unique to gamblers in Japan. Of the students sampled, 342 self-reported gambling symptoms via the South Oaks Gambling Screen. Hierarchical multivariate regression analysis indicated that one domain of gambling cognitive distortions was associated significantly with gambling symptoms among the 342 symptomatic participants: gambling expectancy (β = 0.19, p < .05). The multivariate model explained 47% of the variance in the gambling symptoms.ConclusionThis study successfully contributed to the sparse research on university student gambling in Japan. Specifically, our results indicated a statistically significant relationship between gambling cognitive distortions and gambling disorder symptoms. These results can inform the development of preventive education and treatment for university students with gambling disorder in Japan. The report also describes needs for future research of university students with gambling disorder.

Highlights

This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between symptoms of gambling problems, gambling behaviours, and cognitive distortions among a university student population in Japan ages 20 to 29 years
For the types of gambling that respondents had participated in during the prior year, the most common response was pachislot: 32.7%. These results indicate that the bias of the gambling type to pachislot and pachinko was a characteristic unique to gamblers in Japan that is unlike that of Western gamblers
That is because pachislot and pachinko’s stores and gambling games are the predominant type in Japan, so people have more access to and familiarity with these gambling

Summary

Introduction

This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between symptoms of gambling problems, gambling behaviours, and cognitive distortions among a university student population in Japan ages 20 to 29 years. The prevalence rate (6.13%) of gambling disorder among college and university students, according to meta-analysis of previous research, has been reported as higher than that of adults [20]. Yokomitsu et al Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy (2019) 14:51 one reason students withdraw from college is poor academic performance (14.5% of all reasons) [19]. These academic difficulties might increase the dropout risk or leave of absence from university classes, and affect student’s lives outside of school. Based on the description above, the severe impact of gambling disorder on university students’ health and lives evinces the need for effective, timely treatments to reduce gambling problems and behaviours among university students. Preventive education and information should be offered to university students at risk of developing a gambling disorder, such as social gamblers and nondisordered gamblers [2, 10]

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Conclusion