Mood state and gambling

Using mobile telephones to track emotions

Bibliographic Data

ID5269032
AuthorsPhilip Gee (University of Plymouth), Kenny R Coventry (0000-0003-2591-7723, University of Plymouth, corresponding author), David Birkenhead
Year2005
Volume96
Issue1
Pages53-66
Publication date2005-02-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueBritish Journal of Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0007-1269 • E-ISSN: 2044-8295
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1348/000712604x15536
PMID15826324
OpenAlexW2080867062
LanguageEN
Citations received7
References cited30

Mobile telephones were used to collect data on the relationship between gambling and mood state from gamblers in the field. Seventeen gamblers called an interactive voice response system running on a computer before, during and after a gambling episode. Measures taken in this way included self-reports of anxiety/arousal, the amount of money gambled, whether the result was a win or loss, the amount won or lost, and the type of gambling engaged in. Other measures were taken during an initial briefing session using conventional questionnaires that included self-reports of anxiety/arousal taken in a non-gambling situation, dissociation during gambling, and a measure of degree of impairment of control. The results showed that subjective anxiety/arousal levels were significantly higher during and after gambling than during the urge to gamble or at baselines. Losing was associated with increased subjective anxiety/arousal after play, and winning was associated with a decrease in subjective anxiety/arousal. This suggests that gambling may be a cause of increased subjective anxiety/arousal, rather than functioning to relieve it. A cluster of variables associated with impaired control and subjective anxiety/arousal levels was also identified. The method of collecting data using mobile telephones appears to be a valuable development

Anxiety · Arousal · Developmental psychology · Mood · Psychiatry · Clinical Psychology · Eating Disorders and Behaviors · Gambling Behavior and Treatments · Psychology · Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology · Social Psychology

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