Understanding well-being among gamblers: the role of co-occurring psychopathology
Martí Valls, Carla LU
; Håkansson, Anders C
LU
and Cervin, Matti
LU
(2025)
In Psychiatry Research
- Abstract
- Negative consequences of gambling problems have primarily been examined in terms of symptoms and impairment, with less focus on well-being, a key indicator of intra- and interpersonal functioning and a critical outcome in treatment. Additionally, the role of co-occurring psychopathology in this relation remains unclear. This study examined the relation between gambling problems and well-being in a large population-based sample of individuals who gamble (N = 1005; 52.4% men, aged 18 to over 60). Relations between gambling problems and well-being were assessed both overall and across well-being dimensions—self-acceptance, clear thinking, competence, positive emotions, and positive relationships—while accounting for major symptom dimensions... (More)
- Negative consequences of gambling problems have primarily been examined in terms of symptoms and impairment, with less focus on well-being, a key indicator of intra- and interpersonal functioning and a critical outcome in treatment. Additionally, the role of co-occurring psychopathology in this relation remains unclear. This study examined the relation between gambling problems and well-being in a large population-based sample of individuals who gamble (N = 1005; 52.4% men, aged 18 to over 60). Relations between gambling problems and well-being were assessed both overall and across well-being dimensions—self-acceptance, clear thinking, competence, positive emotions, and positive relationships—while accounting for major symptom dimensions of co-occurring psychopathology. Structural equation modeling revealed that gambling problems were significantly and moderately associated with lower overall well-being (β = -0.49; p < .001), including clear thinking and positive emotions (β = -0.48; p < .001), positive relationships (β = -0.44; p < .001), and self-acceptance and competence (β = -0.43; p < .001). When accounting for externalizing, internalizing, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms separately, gambling problems remained significantly associated with lower well-being (β = -0.21 to -0.32; p < .001). However, when accounting for thought disorder symptoms, gambling problems were no longer significantly associated with well-being. When accounting for all psychopathological factors alongside gambling problems, internalizing, thought disorder, and externalizing symptoms were significantly associated with lower well-being, while gambling problems and obsessive-compulsive symptoms were not. Although limited by its cross-sectional design, these findings highlight the important role of co-occurring psychopathology in understanding well-being related to gambling problems. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/b14557c8-e11d-48d2-92a2-cc7caca0f5ea
- author
- Martí Valls, Carla
LU
; Håkansson, Anders C
LU
and Cervin, Matti
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025-09-01
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- epub
- subject
- in
- Psychiatry Research
- publisher
- Elsevier
- ISSN
- 1872-7123
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.psychres.2025.116715
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- b14557c8-e11d-48d2-92a2-cc7caca0f5ea
- date added to LUP
- 2025-09-05 11:05:59
- date last changed
- 2025-09-08 07:41:13
@article{b14557c8-e11d-48d2-92a2-cc7caca0f5ea,
abstract = {{Negative consequences of gambling problems have primarily been examined in terms of symptoms and impairment, with less focus on well-being, a key indicator of intra- and interpersonal functioning and a critical outcome in treatment. Additionally, the role of co-occurring psychopathology in this relation remains unclear. This study examined the relation between gambling problems and well-being in a large population-based sample of individuals who gamble (N = 1005; 52.4% men, aged 18 to over 60). Relations between gambling problems and well-being were assessed both overall and across well-being dimensions—self-acceptance, clear thinking, competence, positive emotions, and positive relationships—while accounting for major symptom dimensions of co-occurring psychopathology. Structural equation modeling revealed that gambling problems were significantly and moderately associated with lower overall well-being (β = -0.49; p < .001), including clear thinking and positive emotions (β = -0.48; p < .001), positive relationships (β = -0.44; p < .001), and self-acceptance and competence (β = -0.43; p < .001). When accounting for externalizing, internalizing, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms separately, gambling problems remained significantly associated with lower well-being (β = -0.21 to -0.32; p < .001). However, when accounting for thought disorder symptoms, gambling problems were no longer significantly associated with well-being. When accounting for all psychopathological factors alongside gambling problems, internalizing, thought disorder, and externalizing symptoms were significantly associated with lower well-being, while gambling problems and obsessive-compulsive symptoms were not. Although limited by its cross-sectional design, these findings highlight the important role of co-occurring psychopathology in understanding well-being related to gambling problems.}},
author = {{Martí Valls, Carla and Håkansson, Anders C and Cervin, Matti}},
issn = {{1872-7123}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{09}},
publisher = {{Elsevier}},
series = {{Psychiatry Research}},
title = {{Understanding well-being among gamblers: the role of co-occurring psychopathology}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2025.116715}},
doi = {{10.1016/j.psychres.2025.116715}},
year = {{2025}},
}