Risky Decision Making and Impulsivity in Adolescents’ Chess Players: Does Chess Modify or Induce Risky Decisions?

Background: Our main goal in this study was to evaluate impulsivity and risky decision making in adolescents’ intermediate-expert chess players and compare them with non-players. We also looked at the relationship between impulsivity and risky decision making in the two groups. Method: The present study employed a comparative-correlational method which was performed in ۲۰۱۹ in Tehran. Based on the previous research, ۵۵ chess players (۱۴-۱۷ years old) and ۷۹ non-players (۱۳-۱۷ years old) participated in the study. Impulsivity was measured by the Go/no-go task; and risky decision making was assessed via the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT). Independent t-test and Pearson Correlation Coefficient were used for statistical analysis. Results: There were no significant differences between groups regarding age or education. In the go/no go tasks, there were significant differences between the groups in commission error, omission error and inhibition subscales. In the IGT, we observed significant differences between the groups in the net score, raw score and ratio of advantageous/disadvantageous choices in different subscales. In both groups, net scores, raw scores and ratio of advantageous/disadvantageous choices were negatively correlated with the commission error. Additionally, omission error was positively correlated with the inhibition subscale. We found that the relationship between impulsivity and risky decision making was stronger in non-chess players than chess players. Conclusion: The results of this study might put chess in the spotlight as an option to improve impulsivity and risky decision making in clinical settings.

Keywords:

Chess , Impulsivity , risky decision making , Adolescents