Emotion (Dys)Regulation Mediates the Link between Psychological Distress and Problem Gambling: Evaluation of the...

This study addresses the need to identify mechanisms leading to problem gambling, by examining the relationship between psychological distress, emotion regulation difficulties, and problem gambling severity, taking into consideration the potential moderating role of gender.

We collected data from 350 regular gamblers in a Southern European country, via an online survey. We examined bivariate correlations, and gender differences in aspects of psychological distress and emotion regulation, as well as prediction of gambling problems by emotion regulation and distress. Main analyses examined a moderated mediation model, hypothesizing that specific emotion regulation difficulties, assessed using the DERS-18, mediate the link between psychological distress, assessed using the BSI-18, and problem gambling, assessed using SOGS, with gender as a moderator.

Results indicated that gambling problems were significantly correlated with all emotion regulation difficulties and psychological distress facets assessed. Men scored higher in SOGS than women. In linear regression analyses, the emotion regulation strategies of nonacceptance and poor awareness of emotions, and depression-related distress predicted problem gambling severity. Moderated mediation analysis showed that nonacceptance significantly mediated the distress-gambling relationship. Gender moderated the mediational pathway, with nonacceptance being a significant mediator for men but not women.

Findings underscore the role of emotion regulation, a process that may explain the well-established link between psychological distress and gambling problems. It also highlights the need to consider gender-specific processes in interventions. Based on results, training in emotion acceptance is critical for both genders and especially for men. Results provide directions for further research into the psychological processes underlying the etiology and maintenance of problem gambling.