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Abstract

The present study explored whether the contingencies maintaining gambling behavior differed for military-affiliated and non-military-affiliated students. It also tested for differences in how these groups discounted delayed outcomes. Three groups of students participated: Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) students (n = 36), students with a relative in the military (n = 62), and students with no relative in the military (n = 58). Participants completed the Gambling Functional Assessment-Revised and a delaydiscounting task. Results indicated that all participants’ gambling behavior was maintained primarily by positive reinforcement. Moreover, ROTC students scored significantly higher on gambling for positive reinforcement, and significantly lower on gambling for negative reinforcement, than non-ROTC students. No differences were found across groups in terms of delay discounting. The results suggest that there are differences in the contingencies maintaining the gambling behavior of military-affiliated and non-affiliated students. Implications of the results are discussed.

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