Impulsivity Moderates the Association Between Anxiety and Problem Gambling Among Canadian Undergraduates

Tension reduction theory suggests anxious people gamble to cope with negative affect. Literature demonstrates mixed associations between anxiety and gambling behaviours, hence, the important of examining moderators. This study examined how impulsivity moderated anxiety and problem gambling as well as gambling to cope. Given key gender differences, moderation was examined across genders. A sample of 484 undergraduate students who endorsed gambling behaviours completed anxiety, impulsivity, and problem gambling measures. Results showed men with higher levels of anxiety scored higher on problem gambling at both high (B = 0.706, SE = 0.073, p < 0.0001, f² = 0.20) and low (B = 0.262, SE = 0.103, p = 0.01, f² = 0.01) impulsivity, though the effect sizes were much larger for men with high impulsivity. This moderation effect was not found in women (B = 0.000, SE = 0.009, p = 0.959). Results showed men with higher levels of anxiety scored higher on coping motives for gambling at both high (B = 0.253, SE = 0.046, p < 0.0001, f² = 0.06) and low B = 0.141, SE = 0.063, p = 0.026, f² = 0.01) impulsivity, though the effect sizes were larger for men with high impulsivity. Again, this moderation effect was not found in women (B = - 0.101, SE = 0.006, p = 0.100). Findings from this may help inform impulsivity-focused interventions, such as strengthening impulse control and instilling more adaptive coping strategies to lower gambling risk among university men.