The role of psychological factors in the relationship between stressful life events and gambling disorder

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Author(s): Thurm, Ashleigh ; Satel, Jason ; Montag, Christian ; Griffiths, Mark D. ; Pontes, Halley M.

Journal: Journal of Gambling Studies

Year Published: 2022

Date Added: December 22, 2022

A risk factor of gambling disorder (GD) is stressful life events. However, not all people who experience stressful life events and who gamble have GD. The aim of this study was to determine the role of several psychological factors in the relationship between stressful life events and GD. Specifically, this study investigated the role of erroneous gambling beliefs, difficulty in emotion regulation, and self-control. Survey data from 290 Australian adults who had gambled in the past 12 months were analysed. Erroneous gambling beliefs and difficulty in emotion regulation were found to mediate the relationship between stressful life events and GD. However, self-control did not. These results suggest that people who experience more stressful life events are more likely to have erroneous gambling beliefs and to struggle with regulating their emotions. Consequently, they are more vulnerable to the development of GD.

Citation: Thurm, A., Satel, J., Montag, C., Griffiths, M. D., & Pontes, H. M. (2022). The relationship between gambling disorder, stressful life events, gambling‑related cognitive distortions, difficulty in emotion regulation, and self‑control. Journal of Gambling Studies. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-022-10151-5

Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-022-10151-5

Keywords: emotion regulation ; gambling disorder ; gambling-related cognitions ; life stress ; self-control ; stress

Topics: Self Perceptions

Conceptual Framework Factors: Psychological - Personality and Temperament ; Psychological Factors ; Psychological - Coping Styles ; Psychological - Adverse Childhood Experiences

Study Design: Observational: Cross-sectional

Geographic Coverage: Australia

Study Population: Australian adults who had gambled in the past 12 months (n = 290)

Sampling Procedure: Participants were either undergraduate psychology students from the University of Tasmania or members of the broader Australian population. The latter group was recruited either through Prolific or social media platforms (e.g., Facebook).

Study Funding:

No study-specific funding source was declared.