An Exploratory Study of Relationships Among Five-Factor Personality Measures and Forms of Gambling in Adults With and Without Probable Pathological Gambling

The present study explored relationships between personality domains and gambling forms in individuals with and without probable pathological gambling (PPG). Associations among personality domain scores obtained from the NEO Personality Inventory-Revised, endorsements of gambling activities on the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS), and PPG as determined by the SOGS were examined with bivariate and logistic regression analyses. Compared to recreational gamblers, those with PPG scored significantly higher in neuroticism and lower in agreeableness and conscientiousness. Agreeableness was inversely associated with gambling on cards, sports, bingo, stock market, dice, and skill games. Conscientiousness was inversely associated with gambling on sports and animal racing. Extraversion was positively associated with gambling on cards, dice, and stocks. Neuroticism and openness were positively associated with gambling on animal racing and stock gambling, respectively. Significant interactions indicated stronger inverse associations between agreeableness and gambling in casinos, on sports, and on skill games and stronger positive associations between openness and gambling on stocks and skill games in individuals with PPG compared to those without. The results suggest different relationships between personality domain measures and specific forms of gambling in individuals with and without PPG. Future research efforts should examine how personality factors may be used to enhance policy, prevention, and treatment efforts.