University of Sussex
Browse
fpsyg-14-1018098.pdf (617.33 kB)

What explains the link of romantic conflict with gambling problems? Testing a serial mediation model

Download (617.33 kB)
Version 2 2023-08-09, 13:52
Version 1 2023-06-10, 07:03
journal contribution
posted on 2023-08-09, 13:52 authored by Amanda AF Hagen, Raquel Nogueira ArjonaRaquel Nogueira Arjona, Simon B Sherry, Lindsey M Rodriguez, Igor Yakovenko, Sherry H Stewart
While individuals have many motives to gamble, one particularly risky motive for gambling is to cope with negative affect. Conflict with one’s romantic partner is a strong predictor of negative affect, which may elicit coping motives for gambling and, in turn, gambling-related problems. Support for this mediational model was demonstrated in relation to drinking-related problems (Lambe et al., 2015). We extended this model to gambling. Using a cross-sectional design, we examined links between romantic conflict (Partner-Specific Rejecting Behaviors Scale), negative affect (Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales-21), coping gambling motives (Gambling Motives Questionnaire, coping subscale), and gambling-related problems (Problem Gambling Severity Index [PGSI]) in 206 regular gamblers (64% men; mean age = 44.7 years; mean PGSI = 8.7) who were in a romantic relationship and recruited through Qualtrics Panels in July 2021. Results supported our hypothesis that the association between romantic conflict and gambling-related problems would be sequentially mediated through negative affect and coping gambling motives, ß = .38, 95% CI [.27, .39], and also showed a strong single mediation pathway through negative affect alone, ß = .27, 95% CI [.17, .38]. Interventions should target both negative affect and coping gambling motives in response to romantic conflict to reduce gambling-related problems in partnered gamblers.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

Frontiers in Psychology

ISSN

1664-1078

Publisher

Frontiers Media S.A.

Volume

14

Department affiliated with

  • Psychology Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2023-05-12

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2023-05-12

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2023-05-11

Usage metrics

    University of Sussex (Publications)

    Categories

    No categories selected

    Licence

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC