High Illusion of Control Adolescents: A moderated mediation Analyses of the Effects of Forms of Counterfactual Thinking and Gender in Problem Gambling and Gaming

Session Title

Session 2-1-C: Gamblers' Behavior

Presenters

Larry Okechukwu Awo Dr., Federal Polytechnic of Oil and Gas, Bonny, NigeriaFollow
George Nzeadi Duru Mr., Federal Polytechnic of Oil and Gas, Bonny, NigeriaFollow

Presentation Type

Paper Presentation

Location

Park MGM, Las Vegas, NV

Start Date

24-5-2023 9:00 AM

End Date

24-5-2023 10:30 AM

Disciplines

Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms | Clinical and Medical Social Work | Clinical Psychology | Cognitive Behavioral Therapy | Counseling Psychology | Marriage and Family Therapy and Counseling | Mental Disorders | Psychiatric and Mental Health | Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy | Social Work | Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling

Abstract

Abstract

Three studies (Study 1, N = 322 male adolescents, Study 2, N = 401 male and female adolescents, and Study 3, longitudinal, N = 56 male and female adolescents) analyzed the effects cognitive and psychographic variables in the relationships among illusion of control (IC), problem gambling and problem gaming. Moderated mediation analyses results using PROCESS macro in the three studies confirmed: (1) the positive mediating effect of upward CFT in the association between IC and problem gambling and problem gaming; (2) the negative mediating effect of downward CFT in the association between IC and problem gambling and problem gaming; and (3) the moderating effect of gender in confirmed mediations. The results highlighted that (1) high levels of IC act as risk factors for problem gambling and gaming that may be boosted by increased upward CFT, and (2) gender and downward CFR act as protective factors, highlighting the protective effect of downward CFT because it buffers the negative effects of IC on adolescent problem gambling and gaming; and (3) problem gambling and problem gaming appears to be similar in manifestation among Nigerian adolescents.

Implication statement

The finding lend support to the faulty cognition model of problem gambling and gaming, pioneered the moderated-mediation model of problem gambling/gaming correlates in sub-Saharan Africa, and highlight the need for cognitive-based problem gambling/gaming treatment plan focused on checkmating of faulty gambling/gaming cognitions as means of controlling problem gambling/gaming.

Keywords

Illusion of control, moderated-mediation model, counterfactual thinking, problem gambling/gaming, gender.

Author Bios

Dr. Larry Okechukwu Awo holds a Doctorate degree in Experimental Psychology from the University of Nigeria Nsukka, teaches lectures in the Federal Polytechnic of Oil and Gas, Bonny, and has several publications on youth gambling intention, problem gambling and mental health in relevant journals such as the Journal of Gambling Studies, International Gambling Studies, Current Psychology, Journal of Psychology in Africa etc. He is married to Juliet.

George Nzeadi Duru holds a Master’s degree in Criminology from the University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Nigeria. He teaches Citizenship Education in the Federal Polytechnic of Oil and Gas, Bonny, and has several publications on Juvenile delinquency, Criminal Justice System and gambling harm in local and international journals. His marriage to Josephine is blessed with Jayden and Giovanny.

Funding Sources

We did not receive any funding from any governmental or non-governmental agencies and institutions for this study.

Competing Interests

The authors declare no conflict of interest in this study

Comments

This abstract presentation if accepted will be the first of its kind from Nigeria, and would add to the global presence of the UNLV International Conference on Gambling and risk taking. It is our goal to contribute to the success of the conference by providing data from Nigeria, and the problem gambling situation in Nigeria