Personal Luck Usage Scale (PLUS): psychometric validation of a measure of gambling-related belief in luck as a personal possession

Abstract

Luck is by definition a random event. However, many people believe luck to be something it is not – an internal, personal quality. An obstacle for understanding personal luck and its sequelae among gamblers has been the lack of a psychometrically sound measure. The current paper reports the development of the Personal Luck Usage Scale (PLUS). In Studies 1 and 2 (Ns = 347 and 361, respectively), a one-dimensional, eight-item scale emerged and was subsequently confirmed among university-aged gamblers. Importantly, the PLUS was distinguishable from a general belief in luck (Study 2). In Study 3 (N = 60), a behavioural consequence of belief in personal luck was assessed among a community sample of gamblers. Specifically, PLUS scores were positively associated with the average amount of money spent in a gambling session. The implications of a belief in gambling-related personal luck for the progression and maintenance of problem gambling are discussed.

Keywords:

• behaviour
• beliefs
• cognition
• irrational beliefs
• psychology
• sociology

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by a research grant from the Ontario Problem Gambling Research Centre (#2345) to the first author.

Notes

^† Now at Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS Canada