Profiles of problem online gaming and gambling in first-year university students

View Open Access Article View Snapshot Back to Search Results

snapshot summaries

Author(s): Granero, Roser ; Fernández-Aranda, Fernando ; Demetrovics, Zsolt ; Jiménez-Murcia, Susana

Journal: Addictive Behaviors Reports

Year Published: 2026

Date Added: August 07, 2026

In this study, the researchers identified the sociodemographic and psychological profiles of young adults with symptoms of problematic online gaming or problem gambling. They then compared these profiles to young adults without any symptoms. The researchers surveyed 273 first-year undergraduate psychology students in Barcelona, Spain. A total of 100 participants reported at least one symptom of problematic online gaming or problem gambling.

There were two distinct clusters of participants with symptoms of problematic online gaming or problem gambling. One of the clusters showed greater emotional regulation difficulties, psychological distress, impulsive tendency, and distorted beliefs related to gambling. Compared to participants without any symptoms, both clusters generally reported greater psychological difficulties, impulsive tendency, and distorted beliefs related to gambling. The findings can be used to identify and support young adults who may be at risk for problematic online gaming or problem gambling.

Citation: Granero, R., Fernández-Aranda, F., Demetrovics, Z., & Jiménez-Murcia, S. (2026). Phenotypes associated with problematic online gaming and gambling: A clustering approach among young adults. Addictive Behaviors Reports, 23, 100702. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.abrep.2026.100702

Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.abrep.2026.100702

Keywords: gambling disorder ; gaming disorder ; online gambling ; online gaming ; problem gambling ; problematic Internet use

Topics: Online Gambling

Conceptual Framework Factors: Exposure - Gambling Setting ; Types - Structural Characteristics ; Exposure - Accessibility ; Social - Social Demographics ; Exposure - Convergence of Gaming and Gambling ; Gambling Exposure ; Social Factors

Study Design: Descriptive: Survey

Geographic Coverage: Spain, Barcelona

Study Population: First-year psychology undergraduate students who were between 18 and 25 years old (N = 273)

Sampling Procedure: Participants were recruited from the 2023–2024 and 2024–2025 student cohorts through faculty members from the first-year psychology program at the Autonomous University of Barcelona. Data collection occurred between May 2024 and February 2025.

Study Funding:

Funding was received from Plan Nacional sobre Drogas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, and AGAUR-Generalitat de Catalunya. Authors thank CERCA Programme/Generalitat de Catalunya for guarante institutional support.