First Advisor

Johnson, Brian D.

First Committee Member

Parnell, Kenneth

Second Committee Member

Dunn, Thom

Third Committee Member

Merchant, William

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Document Type

Dissertation

Date Created

8-2025

Department

College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, Applied Psychology and Counselor Education, APCE Student Work

Abstract

The rapid expansion of online sports betting in the United States following the repeal of PASPA in 2018 has prompted increased concern regarding problem gambling behaviors specific to this modality. Despite growing accessibility and engagement, relatively little is known about the individual differences that may predict increased risk severity for problem gambling among online sports bettors. This purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among personality traits according to the Big Five, impulsivity, and problem gambling risk severity within a U.S.-based sample of adult online sports bettors. The following research questions were explored in this study:

Q1 Do the Big Five personality traits predict problem gambling risk severity for online sports bettors, as defined by the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) and the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS)?

Q2 Do the five components of impulsivity (i.e., negative urgency, positive urgency, lack of premeditation, lack of perseverance, and sensation-seeking) predict problem gambling risk severity for online sports bettors?

Q3 Is there a significant difference between problem gambling risk severity scores on the PGSI and on the SOGS for online sports bettors?

Q4 Do the demographics and betting behaviors of online sports bettors correlate with the Big Five, problem gambling risk severity, and the five components of impulsivity?

A total of 178 participants completed self-report questionnaires related to the Big Five personality traits, impulsivity, and problem gambling risk. Multiple regression models, among other statistical analyses, were used to investigate potential personality and impulsivity-related predictors for increased problem gambling risk. Findings indicated that higher levels of positive urgency were significantly associated with increased problem gambling severity. Among the Big Five traits, lower conscientiousness and higher extraversion were also uniquely predictive of heightened problem gambling risk. Implications of these findings for theory, clinical work, practical applications, counseling psychology as a field, and future research were discussed.

Abstract Format

html

Keywords

problem gambling; online sports betting; personality traits; the Big Five; impulsivity

Places

Greeley, Colorado

Extent

147 pages

Local Identifiers

Bowling_unco_0161D_11363.pdf

Rights Statement

Copyright is held by the author.

Digital Origin

Born digital

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