Self-Monitoring Questionnaire (SeMo)
Reported by Macdonald. John.‚ Turner. Nigel.‚ Somerset. Matthew. (2008)
1) T F Keeping track of how much time you spend thinking about gambling is a good way to see if gambling is too important to you.
2) T F Caring about safety takes the fun out of risky activities like skateboarding or bungee jumping.
3) T F Only problem gamblers get emotional while gambling.
4) T F People under age 24 usually aren’t mature enough to see they could be headed for trouble.
5) T F Thinking that gambling is a way to make extra spending money might indicate a gambling problem.
6) T F If you want to figure out if a friend has a gambling problem it doesn’t mater how much a person thinks about gambling‚ only how much they lose.
7) T F Problem gambling can be avoided if time is taken regularly to question if gambling losses are causing any sort of problems.
8) T F Being objective about what you do means objecting to people who criticize you.
9) T F Anyone who dreams about a big win has a gambling problem.
10) T F Ignoring emotions helps concentration and results in more wins.
11) T F The only thing people ever lose when they gamble is money.
12) T F A person that wins‚ does not have a gambling problem.
13) T F Gambling is risky in many ways‚ remembering these risks if you gamble makes it less risky.
14) T F Just about anyone can learn how to tell if they are headed for problems.
15) T F The excitement of wins can trick you into betting more.
16) T F Winning money at gambling is never connected with a gambling problem.
17) T F Being objective means sticking to the facts‚ not letting feelings control your opinion.
18) T F Getting mad‚ sad or carried away by excitement while gambling is harmless.
19) T F If you think about the risk as you gamble‚ you’ll lose.
20) T F It is impossible for the average person to keep track of how much they spend gambling.
21) A person who has a problem with gambling often:
a) T F ends their problem by winning their money back.
b) T F can be difficult to be around because their moods change so often.
c) T F does not have problems in other areas of their life.
d) T F expects that they are definitely due to win after they have lost several bets.
e) T F keeps how often they gamble and how much money they bet a secret from everyone.
f) T F feels that the only way to get back money lost by gambling is by more gambling.
g) T F are no longer interested in most activities they used to like.
h) T F remembers times when they win but tends to forget about the times when they lose.
This instrument can be found on pages 38-39 of Life Skills‚ Mathematical Reasoning and Critical Thinking: Curriculum for the Prevention of Problem Gambling. Available online at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18095146
T= true/ F= false
Turner‚ N.‚ Littman-Sharp‚ N.‚ Zengeneh‚ M. & Spence‚ W. (2002). Winners: Why do some develop gambling problems while others do not? Available at www.gamblingresearch.org
Macdonald. John‚ Turner. Nigel‚ Somerset. Matthew. (2008). Life Skills‚ Mathematical Reasoning and Critical Thinking: Curriculum for the Prevention of Problem Gambling. Final Report to the Ontario Problem Gambling Research Centre. Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.