A single 90-minute observation of 3-year-olds pointed toward their risk of becoming problem gamblers almost three decades later.The study analyzed data from roughly 1,000 children born in 1972 or 1973, in Dunedin, New Zealand. At age 3, the children were observed and classified into five temperament groups: undercontrolled (more restless, willful and impulsive), inhibited, confident, reserved (i.e., shy) and well-adjusted.At ages 21 and 32, study participants were contacted again and answered questions including some about gambling problems: For example, had they ever fought with family members over their own gambling? People in the "uncontrolled" group were more than twice as likely as the well-adjusted group to report unhealthy gambling habits. No other temperament group showed elevated risk.
"Undercontrolled Temperament at Age 3 Predicts Disordered Gambling at Age 32: A Longitudinal Study of a Complete Birth Cohort," Wendy S. Slutske and four other authors, Psychological Science (forthcoming)
No comments:
Post a Comment