The roles of gambling refusal self-efficacy and protective behavioral strategies in the relationships between impulsivity and gambling outcomes

View Open Access Article View Snapshot Back to Search Results

snapshot summaries

Author(s): Nagy, Natasa ; Czakó, Andrea ; Demetrovics, Zsolt ; Horváth, Zsolt

Journal: Scientific Reports

Year Published: 2026

Date Added: August 25, 2026

Impulsivity refers to a tendency to act without consideration of the consequences. It has been linked to a higher risk of problem gambling. This study examined whether gambling refusal self-efficacy (GRSE) and gambling protective behavioural strategies (GPBS) play a role in the relationship between impulsivity and gambling. A total of 926 Hungarian adults who had gambled in the past year completed an online survey. It was found that impulsivity was linked to greater gambling involvement and PG through GRSE and GPBS. In other words, people with higher impulsivity had lower GRSE and were less likely to use GPBS. This, in turn, led to greater gambling involvement and a higher risk of PG. GBPS also had a moderating effect on the associations of impulsivity with gambling involvement and problem gambling.

Citation: Nagy N., Czakó A., Demetrovics Z., & Horváth, Z. (2026). Gambling refusal self-efficacy and protective behavioral strategies mediate and moderate the relationships between impulsivity and gambling outcomes. Scientific Reports, 16, 15952. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-46112-w

Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-46112-w

Keywords: addictive behaviour ; gambling disorder ; impulsivity ; protective behavioural strategies ; refusal self efficacy

Topics: Impulsivity ; Information for Treatment Providers ; Prevention

Conceptual Framework Factors: Psychological - Personality and Temperament ; Psychological - Self-Perceptions ; Psychological Factors

Study Design: Descriptive: Survey

Geographic Coverage: Hungary

Study Population: Adults aged 18 or older who had gambled in the past 12 months (N = 926).

Sampling Procedure: The data for this study came from an online survey that was advertised through Facebook in Hungary. The survey was conducted between April and May 2024.

Study Funding:

Open access funding provided by Eötvös Loránd University. Horváth Zsolt received funding support from the Ministry of Culture and Innovation of Hungary from the National Research, Development and Innovation Fund.