Scientific Guide to Gambling-Prone Personalities & Detection

What is the difference between people who become addicted to gambling and those who don’t?

Recently, a large-scale study conducted in Norway revealed the relationship between this problem and personality traits.

This study was published under the title “Problem gambling and the five-factor model of personality: a large population-based study“.

The results of the study revealed that people with this problem have specific personality traits compared to those who don’t.

These study results provide important information that can be useful for prevention and treatment of the problem.

By focusing on personality traits, it may be possible to identify people at high risk for gambling problems early and connect them to appropriate support.

Once again, personality researcher and author of Villain Encyclopedia, Tokiwa (@etokiwa999), will provide the explanation.
※We have developed the HEXACO-JP Personality Assessment! It has more scientific basis than MBTI. Tap below for details.

The Relationship Between Gambling Problems and Personality Traits

Large-Scale Study Conducted in Norway

A large-scale study targeting general adults was conducted in Norway.
This study examined the relationship between gambling problems and personality traits.
The purpose of the study was to clarify the relationship between the severity of this problem and specific personality traits.
Risk factors for this problem were also explored.
This research provides important insights for the prevention and treatment of this problem.
The reliability of the results can be considered high due to the scale of the study and the diversity of participants.
Understanding the relationship between gambling problems and personality traits is useful for problem prevention and treatment.

Details of Study Participants

The study participants were 10,081 Norwegian general adults.
The breakdown of participants was as follows:

• 51.5% women, 48.5% men
• Average age was 46.5 years
• Wide age range from 16 to 74 years old was included

Participants were randomly selected based on Norway’s population distribution.
This enhances the generalizability of the study results.
The gender and age distribution of participants can be said to be an unbiased representative sample.
The diversity of study participants supports the reliability of the results.
The large sample size suggests high statistical power.
This large-scale study provides important foundational data for gambling problem research.

Method for Evaluating Gambling Problems

The Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) was used to evaluate gambling problems.
PGSI is a scale for measuring the severity of this problem.
This scale is classified into the following four categories:

• No problem
• Low-level problem
• Moderate problem
• Severe problem

PGSI consists of nine questions about gambling behavior.
Responses to each question are scored from 0 to 3 points.
The higher the total score, the higher the severity of this problem.
PGSI is a reliable and valid scale widely used for evaluating this problem.
Using this scale allows for objective evaluation of gambling problem severity.

Method for Evaluating Personality Traits

The Mini-International Personality Item Pool (MINI-IPIP) was used to evaluate personality traits.
MINI-IPIP is a scale that measures the following five personality traits:

• Neuroticism
• Extraversion
• Intellect (Openness in the Big Five)
• Agreeableness
• Conscientiousness

Each personality trait is evaluated with four questions.
Responses are made on a 5-point scale from 1 (very inaccurate) to 5 (very accurate).
MINI-IPIP has the advantage of being able to evaluate personality traits with relatively short questions.
This scale is suitable for large-scale survey research.
By evaluating personality traits, it’s possible to examine their relationship with gambling problems.
Using MINI-IPIP can clarify the relationship between personality traits and gambling problems.

What is Big Five Personality Test? Overview, Genetics & MBTI

Analysis Methods

Multiple regression analysis was used for the analysis.
In this analysis, the severity of gambling problems was used as the dependent variable, and personality traits as explanatory variables.
Gender, age, living situation, education level, and employment status were also included as explanatory variables.
By controlling for these variables, it’s possible to examine the independent effects of personality traits.
Analysis was conducted separately for each personality trait.
That is, the relationship with this problem was examined for each of neuroticism, extraversion, intellect, agreeableness, and conscientiousness.
This analytical approach allows for a detailed understanding of the relationship between personality traits and gambling problems.
Multiple regression analysis has the advantage of being able to examine the effects of multiple explanatory variables simultaneously.
From the analysis results, it will be possible to understand the magnitude of personality traits’ influence on gambling problems.

Personality Traits Associated with Gambling Problems

The Relationship Between Neuroticism and Gambling Problems

Neuroticism was shown to have a positive association with gambling problems.
In other words, people with higher neuroticism tend to have a higher risk of developing these problems.
This relationship remained significant even after controlling for other variables.
Neuroticism is a personality trait that represents emotional instability and negative emotions.
Gambling may serve as a means to temporarily alleviate negative emotions.
Additionally, high neuroticism may lead to lower ability to cope with gambling-related problems.
The relationship between neuroticism and these problems has been repeatedly reported in previous research.
This large-scale survey further confirmed the robustness of this relationship.
Neuroticism is considered one of the important factors in the prevention and treatment of gambling problems.

What is Neuroticism? Big Five & MBTI Connections Explained

Higher Neuroticism Leads to More Severe Gambling Problems

Analysis revealed that higher neuroticism leads to more severe gambling problems.
Compared to the no-problem group, neuroticism scores were elevated as follows:

• Low-level problem group: 0.16 points higher
• Moderate problem group: 0.34 points higher
• Severe problem group: 0.66 points higher

These results suggest a dose-response relationship between neuroticism and gambling problems.
In other words, as neuroticism increases, the severity of gambling problems increases progressively.
This relationship remained significant even when controlling for other factors.
High neuroticism is thought to directly influence the worsening of gambling problems.
People with high neuroticism may be unable to appropriately cope with gambling-related problems.
Prevention and treatment of gambling problems may require approaches tailored to neuroticism levels.

Relationship Between Conscientiousness and Gambling Problems

Conscientiousness was shown to have a negative association with gambling problems.
In other words, people with lower conscientiousness tend to have a higher risk of developing gambling problems.
This relationship remained significant even after controlling for other variables.
Conscientiousness is a personality trait that represents discipline and high impulse control.
Low conscientiousness may lead to impulsive decision-making and behavior related to gambling.
Additionally, people with low conscientiousness may tend to underestimate gambling-related problems.
The relationship between conscientiousness and gambling problems has been reported in previous research.
This large-scale survey further confirmed the robustness of this relationship.
Conscientiousness is considered one of the important factors in the prevention and treatment of gambling problems.

What is Conscientiousness? Big Five, MBTI J vs P Relations

Lower Conscientiousness Leads to More Severe Gambling Problems

Analysis revealed that lower conscientiousness leads to more severe gambling problems.
Compared to the no gambling problems group, conscientiousness scores were lower as follows:

• Low-level problem group: 0.13 points lower
• Moderate problem group: 0.28 points lower
• Severe problem group: 0.44 points lower

These results suggest a dose-response relationship between conscientiousness and gambling problems.
In other words, as conscientiousness decreases, the severity of gambling problems increases progressively.
This relationship remained significant even when controlling for other factors.
Low conscientiousness is thought to directly influence the worsening of gambling problems.
People with low conscientiousness may be unable to appropriately cope with gambling-related problems.
Prevention and treatment of gambling problems may require approaches tailored to conscientiousness levels.

5 Personality Traits That Make You a Calm Risk-Taker

Relationship Between Agreeableness and Gambling Problems

Agreeableness was shown to have a negative association with gambling problems.
In other words, people with lower agreeableness tend to have a higher risk of developing these problems.
This relationship remained significant even after controlling for other variables.
Agreeableness is a personality trait that represents empathy and compassion toward others.
Low agreeableness may lead to interpersonal problems caused by gambling.
Additionally, people with low agreeableness may feel that others cannot understand their gambling-related problems.
The relationship between agreeableness and gambling problems has not yielded consistent results in previous research.
This large-scale survey suggests the existence of this relationship.
Agreeableness is considered one of the factors that should be considered in the prevention and treatment of gambling problems.

What is Agreeableness? Big Five, MBTI F vs T Relations

Low Agreeableness Is Prominent in Moderate or Higher Gambling Problems

Analysis revealed that low agreeableness becomes prominent in moderate or higher gambling problems.
Compared to the no gambling problems group, agreeableness scores were lower as follows:

• Low-level problem group: No significant difference
• Moderate problem group: 0.21 points lower
• Severe problem group: 0.20 points lower

These results suggest that low agreeableness is associated with the worsening of gambling problems.
However, no significant difference in agreeableness scores was observed for low-level gambling problems.
Low agreeableness may have an impact when gambling problems worsen to moderate or higher levels.
This relationship remained significant even when controlling for other factors.
In the prevention and treatment of gambling problems, focusing on low agreeableness may be important.
Particularly when gambling problems worsen to moderate or higher levels, improving agreeableness may be an effective countermeasure.

Prevalence of Gambling Problems in Norway

Prevalence of Low-Level Gambling Problems

The prevalence of low-level gambling problems in Norway was estimated at 7.6%.
This percentage was calculated using inverse probability weighting.
Low-level problems refer to a condition where certain problems are observed but do not meet the diagnostic criteria for gambling disorder.
This percentage falls within the range of 7.1% to 8.2% with a 95% confidence interval.
In other words, about 8 out of 100 people have low-level gambling problems.
Low-level problems may increase the risk of transitioning to gambling disorder.
Therefore, preventive intervention at this stage is considered important.
The prevalence of low-level problems is an important indicator for understanding the overall picture of gambling problems.
This percentage suggests the magnitude of the impact that gambling problems have on society.

Prevalence of Moderate Gambling Problems

The prevalence of moderate gambling problems in Norway was estimated at 2.3%.
This percentage was calculated using inverse probability weighting.

Moderate gambling problems refer to a condition where serious problems are observed but do not meet the diagnostic criteria for gambling disorder.

This percentage falls within the range of 2.0% to 2.6% with a 95% confidence interval. In other words, about 2 out of 100 people have moderate gambling problems.

Moderate gambling problems are likely to cause disruptions to overall life. At this stage, specialized treatment and support would be necessary.

The prevalence of moderate gambling problems is an important indicator for understanding the severity distribution of gambling problems.

This percentage suggests the necessity of measures against gambling problems.

Prevalence of Severe Gambling Problems

The prevalence of severe gambling problems in Norway was estimated at 0.6%.

This percentage was calculated using inverse probability weighting. Severe gambling problems refer to a condition that meets the diagnostic criteria for gambling disorder.

This percentage falls within the range of 0.5% to 0.8% with a 95% confidence interval. In other words, 1 in 200 people have severe gambling problems.

Severe gambling problems cause serious health, economic, and social problems.

At this stage, intensive treatment programs are essential.

The prevalence of severe gambling problems is an indicator showing the scale of the most serious layer of gambling problems.

This percentage suggests the magnitude of losses that gambling problems inflict on society.

Addiction-Prone Personality (Drugs, Gambling, Alcohol, Nicotine)

Comparison with Past Surveys

The current survey results show that the prevalence of gambling problems is showing a declining trend compared to past surveys in Norway.

This trend is thought to be due to the strengthening of gambling regulations in Norway. Past surveys reported higher prevalence rates of gambling problems.

For example, in the 2010 survey, the prevalence of moderate gambling problems was 3.1%, and the prevalence of severe gambling problems was 1.1%.

The current survey results are clearly lower compared to these figures. However, it is necessary to consider the influence of differences in survey methods.

Comparison with past surveys is important for understanding temporal changes in gambling problems.

The current survey results show the current state of gambling problems in Norway and suggest the direction of problem changes through comparison with the past.

Comparison with Global Averages

The current survey results show that Norway’s prevalence is somewhat lower compared to the global prevalence of gambling problems.

Globally, the prevalence of moderate gambling problems is reported at 2.4%, and the prevalence of severe gambling problems at 0.8%.

Compared to these figures, Norway’s prevalence can be said to be at a slightly lower level. However, it is necessary to consider differences in survey methods and target populations across countries.

It is also known that the prevalence of gambling problems varies greatly depending on each country’s gambling environment.

Comparison with global averages is important for understanding the relative positioning of gambling problems in Norway.

The current survey results suggest that gambling problems in Norway are in a somewhat lower range from a global perspective.

Risk Factors for Gambling Problems

Men Have Higher Risk of Gambling Problems

The survey results revealed that men have a higher risk of gambling problems.

In all categories of low-level, moderate, and severe gambling problems, the proportion of men exceeded that of women. Particularly in moderate and severe gambling problems, the proportion of men was notably higher.

The high risk of gambling problems in men may be related to the following factors:

• Higher social acceptance of gambling
• Strong orientation toward risk-taking behavior
• Use of gambling as a stress coping method

The high risk of gambling problems in men has been consistently reported in previous research.

This large-scale survey can be said to have further confirmed the robustness of this relationship. Prevention and treatment of gambling problems may require approaches specifically tailored to men.

Understanding the high risk of gambling problems in men is important when considering effective intervention measures.

People Living Alone Have a Higher Risk of Gambling Problems

The survey results revealed that people living alone have a higher risk of gambling problems.

Particularly for moderate and severe gambling problems, the proportion of people living alone was notably high.

The higher risk of gambling problems among people living alone may be related to the following factors:

• Lack of social support
• Gambling to compensate for loneliness and isolation
• Lack of restrictions on time and money spent on gambling

The higher risk of gambling problems among people living alone has also been reported in previous studies.

This large-scale survey can be said to have further confirmed the robustness of this relationship.

Prevention and treatment of gambling problems may require approaches specifically tailored to people living alone.

Understanding the high risk of gambling problems among people living alone is important when considering effective intervention measures.

People Without Higher Education Have a Higher Risk of Gambling Problems

The survey results revealed that people without higher education have a higher risk of gambling problems.

For low-level, moderate, and severe gambling problems alike, the proportion of people without higher education was high.

Particularly for severe gambling problems, the proportion of people without higher education exceeded 80%.

The higher risk of gambling problems among people without higher education may be related to the following factors:

• Lack of knowledge and understanding about gambling
• Lack of problem-solving skills and coping abilities
• Stress associated with low socioeconomic status

The higher risk of gambling problems among people without higher education has also been reported in previous studies.

This large-scale survey can be said to have further confirmed the robustness of this relationship.

Prevention and treatment of gambling problems may require approaches tailored to educational levels.

Understanding the high risk of gambling problems among people without higher education is important when considering effective intervention measures.

Unemployed People and Disability Pension Recipients Have a Higher Risk of Gambling Problems

The survey results revealed that unemployed people and disability pension recipients have a higher risk of gambling problems.

For low-level, moderate, and severe gambling problems alike, the proportion of unemployed people and disability pension recipients was high.

Particularly for severe gambling problems, the proportion of unemployed people and disability pension recipients reached nearly 30%.

The higher risk of gambling problems among unemployed people and disability pension recipients may be related to the following factors:

• Economic hardship and instability
• Large amounts of free time and gambling to fill that time
• Social isolation and alienation

The higher risk of gambling problems among unemployed people and disability pension recipients has also been reported in previous studies.

This large-scale survey can be said to have further confirmed the robustness of this relationship. Prevention and treatment of gambling problems may require approaches tailored to employment status.

Understanding the high risk of gambling problems among unemployed people and disability pension recipients is important when considering effective intervention measures.

Implications for Prevention and Treatment of Gambling Problems

The Importance of Prevention for High-Risk Groups

The results of this survey suggest the importance of prevention for high-risk groups for gambling problems.

High-risk groups refer to people with specific personality traits or demographic factors. Specifically, people with the following characteristics are considered high-risk groups for gambling problems:

• People with high neuroticism and low conscientiousness and agreeableness
• Men
• People living alone
• People without higher education
• Unemployed people and disability pension recipients

It is important to implement early preventive interventions for these high-risk groups.

For example, initiatives such as teaching about gambling risks in school education and strengthening regulations on gambling advertising could be considered.

Prevention for high-risk groups would be a very effective means of preventing the occurrence of gambling problems.

The results of this survey provide important implications when considering prevention measures for gambling problems.

The Possibility of Treatment Approaches Focusing on Personality Traits

The results of this study suggest the potential of approaches focused on personality traits in the treatment of gambling problems.

In particular, it became clear that high neuroticism and low conscientiousness and agreeableness are closely related to gambling problems.

These personality traits may play important roles in the development and maintenance of gambling problems.

Therefore, addressing these personality traits in treatment might be effective. For example, the following treatment approaches could be considered.

• Emotion regulation training for high neuroticism
• Behavioral activation therapy aimed at improving conscientiousness
• Social skills training aimed at improving agreeableness

Such treatment approaches focused on personality traits may lead to fundamental solutions to gambling problems.

The results of this study provide important insights for the development of treatment methods for gambling problems. Understanding the relationship between personality traits and gambling problems is essential for developing effective treatment strategies.

In Conclusion

This large-scale study has revealed that gambling problems are closely related to individual personality traits.

These study results provide important insights for the prevention and treatment of gambling problems. By taking approaches tailored to personality traits and life circumstances, more effective interventions will become possible.

For example, by teaching about these risks in school education or strengthening advertising regulations, it might be possible to prevent high-risk individuals from falling into gambling problems.

Also, in treatment, incorporating psychotherapy that addresses high neuroticism and low conscientiousness and agreeableness may lead to fundamental solutions to the problem.

Gambling problems arise from a complex interplay of individual personality and environment. Based on the results of this study, it can be said that it is important to explore approaches tailored to each individual.

※This article is written with reference to papers published in the following book.