Interpersonal factors associated with suicide ideation among gamblers

Objective: Recent meta-analyses have confirmed an appreciable relationship between problem gambling and suicidality. We explored the potential mechanisms underlying this relationship by testing the applicability of the interpersonal theory of suicide (Joiner, 2005) to problem gambling. This theory proposes, in part, that feelings of perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness increase one's risk for suicidal desire, typically operationalized as suicide ideation. Method: Using mediation and moderated mediation analyses, we examined whether perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness help explain the relationship between problem gambling and suicidal ideation among 598 crowdsourced survey workers with past-year gambling experience. We also explored the roles of debt stress, household breadwinner status, and gambling in isolation in these relationships. Finally, we explored the idiosyncrasy of the interpersonal theory of suicide to problematic gambling by replicating some of our analyses substituting a measure of heavy drinking for problem gambling. Results: Controlling for depression severity, perceived burdensomeness mediated the effects of problem gambling on suicide ideation, especially when combined with thwarted belongingness. Debt stress mediated the relationship between problem gambling and perceived burdensomeness regardless of breadwinner status. Problem gambling predicted thwarted belongingness, but contrary to predictions, this relationship was not especially strong among people who tend to gamble in isolation. Perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness did not play a mediational role in the relationship between heavy drinking and suicidal ideation. Conclusions: Findings support the utility of the interpersonal theory of suicide in regard to suicide ideation in problem gambling and highlight the need for family involvement in problem gambling treatment. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).