The impact of shame and guilt on how emerging adults cope with gambling problems

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Author(s): Pchajek, Jason ; Edgerton, Jason D. ; Sanscartier, Matthew D. ; Keough, Matthew T.

Journal: Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science

Year Published: 2022

Date Added: October 13, 2022

This study examined the impact of shame and guilt on how emerging adults aged 18 to 24 years coped with gambling problems. Survey participants were 391 university students who gambled. Results showed that problem gambling was more strongly associated with shame than guilt. Unexpectedly, shame was not strongly associated with the use of avoidant strategies to cope with gambling loss. Guilt was weakly associated with nonavoidant coping strategies and had weak to moderate association with avoidant coping strategies. For people with problem gambling, shame was linked to the use of avoidant coping and guilt was linked to the use of nonavoidant coping.

Citation: Pchajek, J., Edgerton, J. D., Sanscartier, M., & Keough, M. (2022). Exploring the impact of shame and guilt on coping with gambling problems among emerging adult gamblers. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/cbs0000343

Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/cbs0000343

Keywords: coping ; coping styles ; emerging adults ; emotion regulation ; emotions ; gambling ; gambling problems ; guilt ; shame

Topics: Gambling and the Brain ; Stigmatization

Conceptual Framework Factors: Psychological - Self-Perceptions ; Social - Stigmatization ; Psychological Factors ; Psychological - Coping Styles

Study Design: Observational: Cross-sectional

Geographic Coverage: Canada, Manitoba

Study Population: Emerging adults between the ages of 18 and 24 who were university students and reported having gambled before (n = 391)

Sampling Procedure: Data were collected via the Attitudes, Alcohol, and Gambling Experience Survey (AAGE), administered in fall of 2017 at the University of Manitoba. All participants were students in introductory sociology and psychology courses. Only data from participants between the ages of 18 and 24 and reported that they had gambled before were analysed for this study.

Study Funding:

Partial funding received through the Manitoba Gambling Research Program provided by Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries.