Emotion regulation in emerging adult gamblers and its mediating role with depressive symptomology
Abstract
Background It is presently estimated that as much as 10% of emerging adults are at risk for a gambling disorder. The consequences stemming from problematic gambling engagement include increased substance use, mental health disorders, suicidality, financial strain and legal issues. The present study explores whether deficits in emotion regulation explain the association between problem gambling severity and depression.Methods A sample of 820 emerging adult gamblers (M age = 21.14 years-old, SD = 2.90, 50.9% female) completed an online survey including an assessment of problematic engagement in gambling over the past year, levels of anxious/depressive symptomology, and difficulties in emotion regulation. In total, 15.6% and 8.2% of this sample were at moderate or high risk for gambling disorder.Results Results from a linear regression model revealed that difficulties with impulse control positively contributed to problem gambling scores and engagement in goal-directed behavior positively contributed to problem gambling scores, even after accounting for symptoms of depression. Moreover, results from a mediation model revealed that the association between problem gambling and depression was explained by participants' deficits in non-acceptance, goals, strategies, and clarity.Limitations Limitations include the use of self-report and cross-sectional data making it difficult to infer causality.Conclusions These findings add to our understanding of the mechanisms that appear to explain for the first time the affective consequences of problem gambling. Enhancing specific dimensions of emotion regulation will allow for tailored interventions among gamblers with depression, ultimately achieving better mental health outcomes.
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Emotional regulation difficulties play an important role in the relationship between gambling and other psychopathologies.
“Emotional regulation difficulties have been shown to play an important role in the relationship between these pathologies (Jauregui et al., 2016; Rogier and Velotti, 2018; Marchica et al., 2019).”
From Efficacy of an internet-based psychological intervention for problem gambling and gambling disorder: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial (2021) · cites this paper as Marchica et al., 2019
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- Authors
- Marchica, L. A., Mills, D. J., Keough, M. T., Montreuil, T. C., & Derevensky, J. L.
- Affiliations
- McGill University (CA)
- Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (US)
- University of Manitoba (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Marchica, Loredana A.
- Venue
- Journal of Affective Disorders
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2019-11
- Volume
- 258
- Pages
- 74-82
- ISSN
- 0165-0327 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2965646158
- Cited by
- 22
- References
- 70
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 3
- FWCI
- 3.80
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Affective Disorders (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Fonds de Recherche du Québec-Société et Culture
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Gambling Behavior and Treatments
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Disorders and Psychopathology
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Keywords
- emotion regulation, problem gambling, emerging adults, depression, gambling addiction, impulse control, goal-directed behavior, mediation
- MeSH terms
- Emotional Regulation, Adult, Anxiety, Cross-Sectional Studies, Depression, Depressive Disorder, Female, Gambling, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Surveys and Questionnaires, Substance-Related Disorders, Young Adult, Self Report
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