Examining the Role of Psychological and Personality Factors in Gambling

Author : Tuğba Görgülü

Abstract :Introduction: Gambling behavior is a complex, multidimensional problem that not only leads to economic losses and social functioning impairments but also significantly impacts individuals’ mental health. Recent research has demonstrated strong associations between gambling and psychopathological symptoms, particularly depression and anxiety. These findings indicate that gambling is not merely a behavioral addiction but is also closely linked to underlying psychological vulnerabilities. The literature suggests that individual differences, especially personality traits, play a critical role in the development and persistence of these psychological symptoms. In this context, traits such as neuroticism and psychoticism may heighten emotional sensitivity, increasing susceptibility to depression and anxiety. However, research examining the interplay of personality traits with depression and anxiety in gambling populations remains limited. Accordingly, the present study aimed to investigate the predictive role of personality traits, depressive, and anxiety symptoms gambling behavior among individuals who gamble. Method: A total of 213 participants were included in the study. The mean age of the sample was 30.71 years (SD = 10.03). The majority of participants were male (88%), nearly half were university graduates (49.3%), and slightly more than half were in a relationship (51.1%). Regarding substance use, 48.9% reported alcohol consumption, and 10.1% reported using at least one illicit substance. The age of onset for gambling ranged from 11 to 45 years, with a mean of 20.75 years (SD = 6.23). Data were collected using a Demographic Information Form, the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS), the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), and the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Revised Short Form (EPQ-RSF). Descriptive statistics were first computed, followed by hierarchical multiple regression analyses to examine the predictive roles of personality traits (neuroticism and psychoticism), depression, and anxiety on gambling behavior. Results: A hierarchical regression analysis was conducted to examine whether personality traits (neuroticism, psychoticism) and psychological symptoms (depression, anxiety) predicted gambling behavior. Model 1, which included personality traits, explained 3.6% of the variance in gambling behavior (R² = .036, F(2,154) = 2.89, p = .059). Neuroticism significantly predicted gambling behavior (β = .19, t = 2.40, p = .017), while psychoticism was not significant (β = –.01, t = –0.10, p = .919). Model 2, which added depression and anxiety/stress, significantly improved the prediction, accounting for 25.3% of the variance (R² = .253, ΔR² = .217, ΔF(2,152) = 22.04, p < .001). In this model, depression emerged as a strong and significant predictor (β = .44, t = 4.61, p < .001), while anxiety showed a marginal effect (β = .17, t = 1.66, p = .099). Neuroticism (β = –.12, t = –1.42, p = .159) and psychoticism (β = –.04, t = –0.51, p = .613) were no longer significant. Taken together, these findings indicate that although neuroticism initially predicted gambling behavior, its effect diminished when depression and anxiety were considered. Among the predictors, depression was the most robust factor associated with gambling tendencies. Discussion and Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that gambling behavior is not only linked to personality traits but is particularly associated with depressive symtoms. While neuroticism initially appeared to be a significant predictor, its effect disappeared once depressive and anxiety syptoms were included in the model. This suggests that psychological symptoms play a critical role in gambling behavior, independent of personality. Consistent with prior studies, depression was found to be a key determinant of gambling addiction. These results highlight the importance of prioritizing depressive symptoms in clinical interventions targeting gambling behavior.

Keywords :Gambling, neuroticism, psychoticism, depression, anxiety, behavioral addiction.

Conference Name :International Conference on Applied Psychology (ICOAP-25)

Conference Place Rome, Italy

Conference Date 14th Nov 2025