Validation of the reasons for gambling questionnaire (RGQ) in a British population survey.

INTRODUCTION

The aims of the study are to validate and further psychometrically test the five-dimensional structure of the Reasons for Gambling Questionnaire (RGQ), and to test the differences between different types of gamblers (i.e., offline gamblers who gambled in-person only vs. mixed-mode gamblers who gambled both online and offline) on the five dimensions of the RGQ.

METHODS

Data from the 2010 British Gambling Prevalence Survey (BGPS) were used. The analyzed data comprised 5677 individuals (52.7% female; mean age=47.64 years; SD=17.82). Confirmatory factor analysis and independent-sample t-tests were applied.

RESULTS

The five-dimensional structure of the RGQ was confirmed in the general sample and among gender and age subgroups. Furthermore, mixed-mode gamblers (MMGs) who gambled both online and offline had higher scores for enhancement, recreation and money motives than offline gamblers that gambled in-person only (IPGs). In addition among males, there was a significant difference in the scores for enhancement and recreation motives across MMGs and IPGs. Among past-year gamblers aged 16-34 years, MMGs had higher scores for enhancement, recreational and monetary motives than IPGs while among past-year gamblers aged 35-55 years, MMGs had higher scores for enhancement and recreational motives than IPGs.

CONCLUSIONS

The results are consistent with a previous test of the RGQ and the findings indicate that the RGQ is a valid instrument to assess gambling motives among the general population.