An empirical investigation of the Pathways Model of problem gambling through the conjoint use of self-reports and behavioural tasks

Bonnaire, Céline and Devos, Gaëtan and Barrault, Servane and Grall-Bronnec, Marie and Luminet, Olivier and Billieux, Joël (2022) An empirical investigation of the Pathways Model of problem gambling through the conjoint use of self-reports and behavioural tasks. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 11 (3). pp. 858-873. ISSN 2062-5871

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Abstract

Background and aims: Blaszczynski and Nower (2002) conceptualized their Pathways Model by postulating the existence of three subtypes of problem gamblers who share common characteristics, but also present specific ones. Methods: This study investigated how the psychological mechanisms postulated in the Pathways Model predict clinical status in a sample that combined treatment-seeking gamblers (n 5 59) and non-problematic community gamblers (n 5 107). To test the Pathways Model, we computed a hierarchic logistic regression in which variables associated with each postulated pathway were entered sequentially to predict the status of the treatment-seeking gambler. Self-report questionnaires measured gambling-related cognitions, alexithymia, emotional reactivity, emotion regulation strategies and impulsivity. Behavioural tasks measured gambling persistence (slot machine task), decision-making under uncertainty (Iowa Gambling Task) and decision-making under risk (Game of Dice Task). Results: We showed that specific factors theorized as underlying mechanisms for each pathway predicted the status of clinical gambler. For each pathway, significant predictors included gambling-related cognitive distortions and behaviourally measured gambling persistence (behaviourally conditioned pathway), emotional reactivity and emotion regulation strategies (emotionally vulnerable pathway), and lack of premeditation impulsivity facet (impulsivist-antisocial pathway). Discussion and conclusions: Our study adds to the body of literature confirming the validity of the Pathways Model and hold important implications in terms of assessment and treatment of problem gambling. In particular, a standardized assessment based on the Pathways Model should promote individualized treatment strategies to allow clinicians to take into account the high heterogeneity that characterizes gambling disorder.

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