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- Title
Testing the malleability of illness representations of gambling disorder: An experimental study with repeated measurements.
- Authors
HONG MIAN YANG; WU, ANISE M. S.
- Abstract
Objectives: The commonsense model of self-regulation (CSM) deems that one's illness representations of a certain illness will guide one's self-management health behaviors against the illness. The application of CSM on gambling behaviors is still in an exploratory stage, and the present study hence aimed to test the plasticity of illness representations of gambling disorder (GD). To be specific, we experimentally examined whether illness representations of GD, such as perceived consequences that showed negative associations with GD symptoms, can be changed by external manipulations (e.g., watching related educational videos). Methods: A 2 (Experiment group: watching a video about consequences of GD vs. Control group: watching a video about consequences of alcohol consumption) × 2 (Pre-test of illness representations of GD vs. Post-test of illness representations of GD) mixed design with repeated measures on the second factor was adopted. Sixty-nine student participants were randomly divided into the experimental group (n=42; 54.8% females) and the control group (n=27; 55.6% females). Results: Experimental group reported significantly severer consequences regarding GD compared to their baseline level assessed one to two weeks ago. We also found a significant and a marginally significant increase in perceived demoralization and illness coherence of GD, respectively, among them. No significant differences were found in any illness representations of GD among participants in the control group. Conclusion: Illness representations of GD are malleable in practice. Educational materials are promising tools for altering related illness representations and in turn promoting self-control over gambling but further experimental research with behavioral outcomes is warranted.
- Subjects
COMPULSIVE gambling; GAMBLING behavior; REPEATED measures design; PSYCHOLOGY of the sick; HEALTH behavior
- Publication
Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 2023, Vol 12, p272
- ISSN
2062-5871
- Publication type
Article