Advancing the Pathways Model: Financially Focused Self-concept and Erroneous Beliefs as Core Psychopathologies in Disordered Gambling

Gamified Problem Gambling and Psychological Distress: The Mediated-Moderated Roles of Cognitive and Economic Motives

Economic and non-economic motives for gambling may amplify anxiety and depression among young adults. On the grounds that online gambling is highly addictive, it is imperative to assess significant contributory factors in gambling that aggravate financial harm and psychological distress. The study examines gamified problem gambling and psychological distress among young adults in Ghanaian universities. The study further explores the mediating role of cognitive biases and heuristics as well as financial motive for gambling between gamified problem gambling and psychological distress. Through a cross-sectional design and convenience sampling technique, the study employed (n = 678) respondents who took part in different forms of gambling events in the last 2 years. Instruments for construct assessment include problem gambling severity, cognitive biases and heuristics, financial motive for gambling and psychological distress scales. Control variables include gender, age, income source and type of gambling patronized in the last 2 years. Using hierarchical regression, gamified problem gambling was found to have a positive effect on psychological distress. Also, cognitive biases & heuristics partially mediates between gamified problem gambling and psychological distress. Finally, financial motive for gambling moderates between gamified problem gambling and psychological distress. The outcomes bring to bear economic and non-economic motives that exacerbate psychological distress among young adults. Based on the vulnerability of problem gamblers in developing countries, the researchers recommend a need for stricter regulations to somewhat control online gambling frequency among young adults.

A longitudinal study of gambling motives, problem gambling and need frustration

Gambling motives are an important element in understanding the development of problem gambling, yet most of the recent studies investigating their role in problem gambling have been cross-sectional. This study analyzed the links between gambling motives and problem gambling using a longitudinal study design. The moderating effect of the frustration of basic psychological needs was also assessed. The study sample with 1,022 participants (48.43% female, M_age = 49.50 years) was surveyed at three timepoints (T1-T3) in 6-month intervals. The Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) was used to measure problem gambling and need frustration was assessed with The Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scale (BPNSFS). The data were analyzed using a multilevel mixed-effects regression model where PGSI was the outcome variable. Gambling motives and need frustration were the predictors while psychological distress (measured with the 5-Item Mental Health Inventory, MHI-5), offshore/onshore online gambling, and socio-demographic factors were used as control variables. All the motives predicted problem gambling individually over time. In contrast, motives to escape, to win money, and to compete along with need frustration predicted problem gambling over time in the full model. In addition, money motive and need frustration had an interaction effect so that higher need frustration combined with money motive predicted more severe gambling problems. The results of this study provide a valuable longitudinal perspective on gambling motives, frustration of basic psychological needs, and gambling problems which can be used to develop and improve treatment efforts and programs of problem gambling.