Problematic gambling: The role of cognitive and affective factors among university students
Natale Canale, Chiara Verzeletti, Guglielmo Cavallari, Massimiliano Pastore, Massimo Santinello
The increased accessibility to gambling and the prevalence of gamblers makes the issue of the
consequences of gambling a public health problem, due to the negative impact of this phenomenon
on individuals’ well-being and health. The aims of this study are: (a) to investigate the role of
emotional factors (e.g. emotion regulation) and cognitive factors (e.g. the individual’s control
beliefs) on problematic and risky gambling, and (b) to test the integrated model of problem gambling
(Blaszczynsky and Nower 2002). A self-report questionnaire was administered to 313 university
students (54,3% female; age M = 22,4, s.d. = 2,8). Problematic and risky gambling is associated with
a high use of expressive suppression as an emotion regulation strategy, the illusion of control and
a belief in systems as cognitive beliefs. Effective preventive and treatment interventions for college
students should take into account the concurrent role of emotional and cognitive factors. Moreover,
this study partially confirms the model of Blaszczynsky and Nower (2002). Further studies could
consider the role of factors such as impulsiveness, sensation seeking and gambling motives.
Keywords
Gambling, Cognitions, Emotions, University students, Emotion regulation.
