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Development and validation of the Gamblers' Beliefs Questionnaire
Timothy A Steenbergh1, Andrew W Meyers, Ryan K May
1Institute for Gambling Education and Research, Department of Psychology, University of Memphis, Tennessee 38152, USA.
Summary
The Gamblers' Beliefs Questionnaire (GBQ) effectively measures cognitive distortions in gambling. Higher GBQ scores indicate more severe gambling problems and are linked to longer gambling sessions.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Behavioral Science
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Cognitive distortions are common in gambling behavior.
- A validated measure is needed to assess these distortions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate the Gamblers' Beliefs Questionnaire (GBQ).
- To assess cognitive distortions related to gambling.
Main Methods:
- Item generation based on theory, empirical evidence, and expert review.
- Factor analysis to determine scale structure.
- Reliability and validity testing with 403 adults.
Main Results:
- The final GBQ has 21 items across two factors: Luck/Perseverance and Illusion of Control.
- The scale demonstrated good internal consistency (alpha = .92) and test-retest reliability (r = .77).
- Problem and pathological gamblers scored significantly higher on the GBQ than non-problem gamblers.
Conclusions:
- The GBQ is a reliable and valid measure for assessing gambling-related cognitive distortions.
- GBQ scores correlate with gambling severity and session duration.
- The measure is not influenced by social desirability.