Attachment styles refer to the ways that people think of themselves and how they relate to other people. Attachment styles affect how we regulate our emotions. People with gambling disorder often struggle to regulate their emotions in a healthy way. So, researchers have been investigating whether attachment styles play a role in gambling disorder. The authors searched for empirical studies on this topic. They identified 13 studies and summarized the results. Many of the studies linked an insecure attachment style to gambling disorder. Other studies demonstrated that having a secure attachment style is protective against gambling disorder.
