Understanding well-being among gamblers: The role of co-occurring psychopathology
Abstract
Negative consequences of gambling problems have primarily been examined in terms of symptoms and impairment, with less focus on well-being, a key indicator of intra- and interpersonal functioning and a critical outcome in treatment. Additionally, the role of co-occurring psychopathology in this relation remains unclear. This study examined the relation between gambling problems and well-being in a large population-based sample of individuals who gamble (N = 1005; 52.4 % men, aged 18 to over 60). Relations between gambling problems and well-being were assessed both overall and across well-being dimensions-self-acceptance, clear thinking, competence, positive emotions, and positive relationships-while accounting for major symptom dimensions of co-occurring psychopathology. Structural equation modeling revealed that gambling problems were significantly and moderately associated with lower overall well-being (β = -0.49; p < .001), including clear thinking and positive emotions (β = -0.48; p < .001), positive relationships (β = -0.44; p < .001), and self-acceptance and competence (β = -0.43; p < .001). When accounting for externalizing, internalizing, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms separately, gambling problems remained significantly associated with lower well-being (β = -0.21 to -0.32; p < .001). However, when accounting for thought disorder symptoms, gambling problems were no longer significantly associated with well-being. When accounting for all psychopathological factors…
Read the paper
Related studies
- The neurocircuitry of addiction: an overview
- Gender Differences in Human Brain: A Review
- Stratified medicine for mental disorders
- The neurobiology of drug addiction: cross-species insights into the dysfunction and recovery of the prefrontal cortex
- Annual Research Review: DNA methylation as a mediator in the association between risk exposure and child and adolescent psychopathology
- Schizophrenia: The new etiological synthesis
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.