Abstract

In this study, we examined whether individuals with higher levels of impulsivity have greater gambling severity and whether the relationship is mediated by a deficit of decision-making ability. In addition, we investigated whether the impact of impulsivity on gambling severity through decision-making ability varies depending on the level of feeling of relative deprivation. Participants completed a decision-making task and then answered questions about impulsivity, gambling severity, feelings of relative deprivation, and demographic information. We analyzed whether each subfactor of impulsivity (urgency, lack of premeditation, lack of perseverance, sensation seeking) predicts gambling severity through decision-making ability. We found that only urgency and lack of premeditation subfactors predicted gambling severity through decision-making ability. Higher levels of urgency and lack of premeditation were associated with lower decision-making ability and lower decision-making ability predicted higher gambling severity. We also examined whether the mediating effect of decision-making ability on the relationship between each subfactor of impulsivity and gambling severity is moderated by feelings of relative deprivation. The results of moderated mediation analysis revealed that the mediation effect, predicting higher gambling severity through lower decision-making ability for individuals with high urgency and high lack of premeditation, was significant among those with higher or average levels of feeling of relative deprivation, but not among those with lower levels. This study results suggest the influence of feeling of relative deprivation on the relationship between subfactors of impulsivity and decision-making ability, and gambling severity among university students.