Risk-Taking

ObjectiveWhile gambling is a growing public health concern, research resources are limited, and no guidance is available to prioritise research. This study aimed to identify priorities for gambling research on a global scale using a systematic, transparent, and democratic methodology to inform researchers and other stakeholders.MethodsLeading gambling researchers were invited to list gambling-related research questions that can contribute to strengthening evidence-based policy, prevention, and effective early intervention and treatment of problem gambling. Suggestions were consolidated into research options and evaluated against six criteria (Answerability, Feasibility, Effectiveness, Impact on equity and an additional two based on the category of research options: Novelty and Relevance for description-type, Potential for burden reduction and Deliverability for intervention-related options). Stakeholders (n = 14) assigned relative weights to each criterion, and options were ranked according to their weighted research priority scores.ResultsWith input from 46.9% of eligible researchers (n = 307) from 35 countries, 1,361 questions were consolidated into 102 options. Evaluations showed strong agreement between experts, and the top 25 priorities were identified. The results highlight the need for further knowledge about the epidemiology, etiology, and consequences of problem gambling. Top-priority topics indicate the importance of focusing on vulnerable and minority groups, youth, significant others, technological innovations, advertisements, the convergence of gaming and gambling, and co-occurring conditions. Evaluating and tailoring existing measures were prioritised more highly than new interventions, and identifying factors underlying treatment seeking, drop-out and relapse was also considered a priority.ConclusionsThis initiative successfully involved the global research community in identifying gambling research priorities. The results provide information for researchers and other stakeholders for future projects and funding.

BackgroundWith the growing popularity and convenience of the internet, an increasing number of men who have sex with men (MSM) are seeking casual sexual partners online. However, the effect of online casual sexual behavior on other HIV-related risk behaviors remains unclear.ObjectiveThis study aims to explore the characteristics of internet-based casual sexual behavior and its relationship with HIV-related risk behaviors among MSM.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted between June and December 2018 in 4 cities in Zhejiang Province, China. Peer-driven sampling was used for recruitment. Announcements were disseminated by 4 community-based organizations and 10 voluntary counseling and testing clinics online and offline. After informed consent, participants completed an electronic questionnaire covering demographic characteristics, casual sexual behaviors, HIV-related risk behaviors, and HIV prevention. SPSS (version 19.0; IBM Corp) was used to conduct chi-square tests, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses using a backward stepwise method based on the likelihood ratio test, and Poisson regression with robust variance to identify associations between finding casual sexual partners online and other risk behaviors. P values of ResultsIn the past 6 months, 40.2% (302/751) of participants reported finding casual sexual partners online; 18.9% (142/751) reported finding casual sexual partners offline; 7.6% (57/751) reported having sexual intercourse with MSM without condoms after drinking alcohol; and 6.9% (52/751) reported condomless sex after using stimulants. Among those who found partners online, 62.5% (188/301) did so more than once per month and 39.5% (113/286) had more than one online sexual partner. In total, 39.3% (114/290) had sex with online partners at home and 10.1% (30/297) sought partners in other cities. Compared with participants who engaged in receptive anal intercourse (or both roles), those who engaged only in insertive intercourse reported a higher proportion of finding partners online more than once per month (72.7% vs 57.4%, P=.01), having more than 2 online sexual partners (52.1% vs 33.3%, P=.002), and conducting inconsistent condom use with online sexual partners (40.0% vs 25.8%, P=.01). Regression analysis showed that, compared with MSM who did not find partners online, those who did were more likely to report finding casual sexual partners offline (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 9.398; 95% CI 5.956-14.829), having sex without condoms after drinking alcohol (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] 1.788; 95% CI 1.062-3.011), and having sexual intercourse without condoms after using stimulants (aPR 2.064; 95% CI 1.178-3.617).ConclusionsInternet-based casual sexual behavior is increasingly common among MSM. Finding partners online was associated with offline partner-seeking and condomless use after alcohol or stimulant use. Future HIV prevention efforts should emphasize behavioral interventions tailored to MSM who use dating apps.

Online gambling and gaming are associated with Problematic Usage of the Internet (PUI) in subgroups of individuals. This study aimed to assess how different personality dimensions are associated with PUI scores of Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games (MMORPG) players and online poker players, and to characterize common and specific personality traits of both groups in their association with PUI. Participants (N = 1144) were recruited online and assessed with the Internet Addiction Test (IAT), the Big Five Inventory and the Short UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale. Data were analyzed with multiple robust linear regression models. The first model tested the associations between personality and impulsivity traits with IAT scores, while controlling for age, gender, and type of online activity. The second model included interaction terms to assess whether these associations differed between MMORPG and poker players. In model 1, neuroticism, negative urgency, positive urgency and sensation seeking were significantly and positively associated with higher IAT scores after controlling for the other personality traits, age, gender, and type of online activity. Extraversion was negatively associated with IAT scores. In Model 2, no significant difference in how these personality traits relate to IAT scores was observed between the two groups. Results highlight that traits such as neuroticism, negative urgency, positive urgency, and sensation seeking constitute potential risk factors for PUI, while extraversion might constitute a protective factor against PUI. The identified associations could be useful in understanding players’ attitudes and supporting them in gaining insight into their difficulties.

Decision making involving risk of punishment is a cognitive process characterized by sex-specific phenotypes, with females exhibiting greater risk aversion than males. Although prior research has demonstrated that ovarian hormones, and estradiol (E2) in particular, contribute to increased risk aversion in females, the receptor mechanisms underlying these effects remain unknown. Further, it is unclear what role the other key ovarian hormone progesterone (P4) plays in female risk aversion. Accordingly, the current set of experiments were designed to address these gaps in knowledge of the hormonal basis of female risk-taking behavior. Female rats were trained in a punishment-based risky decision-making task, ovariectomized, and then retested in the decision-making task. Rats were then treated with estradiol benzoate (Experiment 1; EB), estrogen receptor (ER) agonists (Experiment 2) or progesterone (Experiment 3; P4) after daily test sessions for 7 days. Consistent with prior work, OVX increased risk taking, and EB administration attenuated this effect. Administration of an ERα agonist, either alone or with an ERβ agonist, similarly mitigated the effects of OVX on risk taking. In contrast, the ERβ agonist alone was ineffective in restoring risk aversion in OVX females. Control tests confirmed that the effects of the ERα agonist on risk taking were not due to altered food motivation or footshock sensitivity. Finally, P4 administration did not alter risk taking in OVX females and did not inhibit EB's behavioral effects. Collectively, these data reveal that E2 is the critical ovarian hormone that promotes female risk aversion; further, they suggest that the likely mechanism by which E2 influences risk aversion in females is through activation of ERα.