Testing an explanatory model for preventing college students' problem gambling

Purpose: A mediated model of Korean college students' problem gambling based on Blaszczynski and Nower's pathway model is developed and tested to explore mediating roles of self-control and irrational gambling beliefs in the association between emotionally vulnerable variables and problem gambling. Methods: 273 student participants recruited from 4 universities in Seoul and Gyeonggi, Korea responded. Data were collected with a structured self-report questionnaire comprising measures of problem gambling, depression, anxiety, coping styles, irrational gambling belief, and self-control. Results: The modified research model provides a reasonable fit to the data. Depression, anxiety, reflective coping, irrational beliefs, and self-control turned out to have direct effects on problem gambling, while indirect effects were reported in some suppressive and reactive styles. These predictors account for 38% of the college students' problem gambling. Conclusion: The findings suggest that developing intervention programs for reducing depression, anxiety, irrational gambling beliefs, and increasing reflective coping and self-control are needed to prevent Korean college students'problem gambling.