Problem Gamblers Show Elevated Positive and Negative Urgency in Survey Study

In an online survey study evaluating 630 adult gamblers, researchers found that individuals classified as problem gamblers scored significantly higher on both positive and negative urgency than non-problem, low-risk, and moderate-risk gamblers. Furthermore, after controlling for participant age and social desirability scores, elevated levels of positive urgency and negative urgency were each associated with increased odds of membership in the moderate-risk and problem gambling categories relative to non-problem gamblers. In contrast, among individuals in the low-risk gambling category, only positive urgency was associated with group membership relative to non-problem participants.

The investigation, conducted by researcher Chris James Serafim and published in Discover Psychology, evaluated how positive and negative urgency are expressed across four established levels of gambling severity. The report noted that while a relationship between positive and negative urgency and gambling behavior is already well established in existing research, scientific work examining how these two impulsivity facets are expressed across the complete spectrum of gambling severity has remained underdeveloped. The study was structured to address this gap by assessing urgency across non-problem, low-risk, moderately at-risk, and problem gambling cohorts.

The research evaluated a total sample of 630 gamblers with ages ranging between 18 and 73 years. Within this participant group, the mean age was 38.56 years, with a standard deviation of 11.52 years. The study categorized the full sample into four distinct gambling severity classifications. Non-problem gamblers comprised 12.6 percent of the participants, low-risk gamblers represented 29.0 percent, moderate-risk problem gamblers accounted for 20.0 percent, and individuals identified as problem gamblers made up 38.4 percent of the surveyed cohort.

To collect the primary data, the author administered an online survey comprising three distinct measurement instruments. Participants completed the Short UPPS-P Impulsive Behavioural Scale, referred to as the S-UPPS-P, to evaluate positive urgency and negative urgency. Gambling severity levels across the cohort were measured using the Problem Gambling Severity Index, or PGSI. Additionally, the survey incorporated the Short-Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale, abbreviated as the S-MCSDS, to assess and control for social desirability tendencies among respondents.

The statistical analysis began with a one-way analysis of variance comparing urgency scores across the four identified gambling severity groups. The one-way ANOVA results demonstrated that problem gamblers scored significantly higher on both positive urgency and negative urgency than participants in the remaining three groups, which included non-problem, low-risk, and moderate-risk gamblers. This primary comparative observation established that the highest severity tier exhibited greater measured levels of both urgency facets compared to all lower tiers of gambling severity.

To evaluate group membership while accounting for relevant covariates, the author conducted a multinomial logistic regression analysis that controlled for both age and social desirability. The regression model showed that elevated positive urgency and elevated negative urgency were independently associated with higher odds of membership in both the moderate-risk problem gambling group and the problem gambling group when compared directly against non-problem gamblers. However, this pattern differed in the low-risk tier, where only positive urgency was associated with membership relative to the non-problem group.

The study concluded that these findings support existing literature by highlighting the critical role played by both urgency facets across different levels of gambling severity, noting that positive urgency appears to be particularly salient among low-risk gamblers. The author reported that clinical practitioners may utilize these findings to achieve a more precise understanding of the emotional correlates associated with an individual’s gambling behavior. In turn, these insights could potentially inform future scientific investigations focused on emotion-focused mechanisms within gambling interventions.

Subject of Research: Positive and negative urgency across levels of gambling severity

Article Title: Examining the expression and associations of positive and negative urgency across the spectrum of gambling severity

Article References: Serafim, C. J. (2026). Examining the expression and associations of positive and negative urgency across the spectrum of gambling severity. Discover Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44202-026-00977-0

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1007/s44202-026-00977-0

Keywords: gambling severity, positive urgency, negative urgency, impulsivity facets, problem gambling, low-risk gambling, moderate-risk gambling, non-problem gamblers, Problem Gambling Severity Index, Short UPPS-P, social desirability, Short-Marlowe-Crowne scale, multinomial logistic regression, one-way ANOVA, gambling behavior, emotional correlates, emotion-focused interventions, Discover Psychology