Pathological Gambling in Relation to Anxiety and Identity Status

Abstract

Pathological gambling represents the end spectrum of gambling behaviors. This behavior affects the gambler's family and friends and the most obvious consequence of gambling problems is a poor private economy. This study examines the connection between pathological gambling, anxiety and identity status. A group of 50 patients diagnosed with pathological gambling which joined this research filled in the South Oaks Gambling Screen, the STAI-Form Y Anxiety Inventory and the Identity status measure EOM-EIS-2. The results were compared to those obtained by a control group. The clinical group shown higher level SOGS scores and higher anxious symptomatology compared to the control group. Concerning the identity status in the clinical group, it was shown that moratorium and difuse identity were prevalent.