Investigating the complex relations among affective variables in the context of gambling

Chiara Andrà; Eleonora Averna; Ilaria Copelli; Gianluca Sini Cosmi; Elisa Paterno; Claudia Chiavarino

doi:10.31129/LUMAT.12.1.2148

Authors

Chiara Andrà IUSTO - Istituto Universitario Salesiano Rebaudengo Torino, Italy and Università del Piemonte Orientale, Italy
Eleonora Averna IUSTO - Istituto Universitario Salesiano Rebaudengo Torino, Italy
Ilaria Copelli IUSTO - Istituto Universitario Salesiano Rebaudengo Torino, Italy
Gianluca Sini Cosmi IUSTO - Istituto Universitario Salesiano Rebaudengo Torino, Italy
Elisa Paterno IUSTO - Istituto Universitario Salesiano Rebaudengo Torino, Italy
Claudia Chiavarino IUSTO - Istituto Universitario Salesiano Rebaudengo Torino, Italy https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9475-3764

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31129/LUMAT.12.1.2148

Keywords:

affect as system, gambling disorder

Abstract

Gambling disorder is a dramatic phenomenon that is spreading, in Italy as well as around the world, among younger and younger people every year. Activities in mathematics lessons at school can help pre-vent it, but it is necessary to know with which attitudes and beliefs students approach such mathematics lessons, as well as the role of the social environment. Thus, in this study, within a sample of secondary school students who experienced gambling at various levels of addiction (from none to high), we investigate the role of: mathematics-related beliefs, emotions, social relationships, attitudes towards gambling and behaviour, through a set of calibrated self-report multiple-choice questionnaires. This represents for us an opportunity to understand the complex relations among affective variables in mathematics educational activities aimed at preventing gambling disorder. For example, we found a positive correlation between mathematics-related beliefs and gambling frequency, and a negative correlation between emotional regulation and gambling frequency. Hence, we can say that affective variables such as emotions and beliefs have an effect on gambling behavior.

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